The real question is this: Identify how the existence of interest groups and pol

Question

The real question is this: Identify how the existence of interest groups and political parties affect the public opinions of Texans. Is this affect beneficial or hinderances to the prinicipal of local control popular in Texas policy? Why?

I'm writing a report and I have the first part of the question done. But I don't know whether or not it is beneficial or hinderances to the principal of local control... I would say it hinderances the principal of local control because the interest groups are putting forth their own opinions onto the public and government officials but i'm not sure. Any thoughts?

Explanation / Answer

Political parties play a number of critical functions and provide unrivaled mechanisms for political organization and representation. Parties are frequently criticized for either fostering partisanship and providing a forum for ideologues or, conversely, for lacking coherent vision. These criticisms both ring true, but in isolation provide only a partial understanding of the roles and evolution of the Texas party system.

The struggle between moderates and more ideologically driven members provides part of the dynamism that helps parties evolve over time and maintain their central role in the state's political system. Whatever the criticisms leveled at them, political parties provide a critical mechanism for citizens of varying interests and means to associate with others, to pool their resources and to attempt to influence institutions at all levels of government. Throughout the history of the Lone Star State, diverse interests (and coalitions of interests) have used political parties as vehicles for participating in politics and influencing government.

Parties collect and disseminate data and other information related to public policy issues in order to persuade voters and other influential individuals about a specific approach. Parties also provide the specific line of argumentation and word choice that best promotes their position. Though the parties always have dissenters, the parties come to be associated with particular policy positions which they can be expected to advocate in public debate.

Most recently, the state has seen the development of a dominant Republican Party that doesn't (yet) hold quite the stranglehold the Democrats enjoyed through most of the twentieth century. The Republican Party has certainly benefited from the defection of former Democrats, the influx of Republicans and independents from out of state, and organizational difficulties in the Democratic Party. As a result, Republican officeholders dominate state government, and Democrats find themselves reduced, for the present, to the status of an embattled minority party seeking to reestablish themselves among their voting and financial constituencies.

Well if the opinions put are democratic in nature it is definitely going to be beneficial ususally, though it is a highly controversial phenomenon, often seen in a negative light by journalists and the American public.Since government has grown increasingly complex, having to deal with new technologies, the task of writing rules has become more complex. "Government has grown so complex that it is a virtual certainty that more than one agency would be affected by any piece of legislation," according to one view. Lobbyists, therefore, spend considerable time learning the ins and outs of issues, and can use their expertise to educate lawmakers and help them cope with difficult issue.

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