To better understand state interest-group politics, this study compares two
approaches to understanding the density of their interest communities. The
first approach-Gray and Lowery's energy, stability, area model of density-
emphasizes a small set of political and economic variables operative within
each state in accounting for density. The second, of which there are sever
al examples, emphasizes a regional level of analysis. The two approaches ar
e evaluated as both independent and complementary accounts of state interes
t-community density wing 1990 state lobby-registration data. Although some
evidence of modest underspecification in the Gray and Lowery model is found
, regional or spatially bared variables only have a small impact on the den
sity of state interest-communities.