Find and explore the website for a Texas interest group of your choice. Do a search for a subject you are interested in and see if there is a group that matches. Then see if they are active in Texas. You may have to spend some time looking, if you want to find a group that matches your own interests.
Some suggested places to search: Project VoteSmart (https://votesmart.org/interest-groups/TX/#.VR1syI7fDGU) or the Texas Tribune's list of Interest Group Scorecards: http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/82nd-session-interest-group-scorecards/ or the list of top lobbyist/interest groups from the Texans for Public Justice report: http://info.tpj.org/reports/Top%20Lobbyists%202013.pdf
Most of the groups that you will find should have site names ending in ".org" since they are organizations. Once you have found a group, analyze the group through its website. Be sure and discuss what kind of information is available on the site. Consider the following:
• What does the group stand for? (usually this is in the "About" section),
• What activities does it engage in to draw attention to the cause/change government policy?
• What types of benefits does the group offer to prospective and current members?
• Is it an offshoot of a national interest group? If yes, how is it similar/dissimilar to its national counterpart?
• What attracts you to this group?
• Is the group likely to be successful in swaying public opinion/political leaders? Why or why not? Consider what you know about political culture in Texas, the current legislature and executive.
All papers must be typewritten, with reasonable font sizes and margins (12pt maximum; 1-inch margins). Unless otherwise stated, papers should be at least 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced, and submitted via eCampus.
Papers are required to include introductions and conclusions.