POLITICAL PARTY ORGANIZATION GOVT 2306, Module 5

Definition A political party is an organization that seeks political power. Parties are similar to interest groups in that both types of political organizations are interested in election outcomes. The difference is that political parties attempt to win control of the machinery of government by nominating candidates for elected office to run under the party label. Once in office, they identify with the party while in office. The Republican Party, Democratic Party, Texas Association of Business (TAB), and Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) all participate in the election process and attempt to influence public policy, but only the Republicans and the Democrats actually put forward candidates for office under their organizational name.

Two-Party System The United States has a two-party system, which is the division of voter loyalties between two major political parties, resulting in the near exclusion of minor parties from seriously competing for a share of political power. Every statewide officeholder and every member of the Texas legislature is a Republican or Democrat.

Third parties A third party is a minor party in a two-party system. Minor parties, such as the Libertarian, Green, and Reform Parties, have tried to have an impact in Texas politics. However, except for the election of a small number of Libertarian candidates at the local level, minor party candidates have had little success in the Lone Star State.

One-Party Dominance in Many States Despite a national two-party system, many states have experienced periods of one-party dominance. The most significant example of one-party Democratic control took place in the South after the end of the Civil War era. Political conflicts still occurred in the South, but they took place within the Democratic Party between factions divided over issues or personalities. A party faction is an identifiable subgroup within a political party. The Republican Party is currently the dominant party in Texas and most southern states, but its level of control does not match that of the Democrats for nearly a century after Reconstruction.

Texas is a Republican state, but not the most Republican state. PARTY ID BY STATE This state ranking is based on the party identification of state residents rather than election outcomes. Texas is a Republican state, but not the most Republican state.

One-Party Control and Factions When one party dominates a state’s politics, it tends to divide into factions. Is that happening today with the Texas Republican Party? Yes. It’s the Tea Party v. the party establishment.

Quiz Organization X runs candidates for office with the goal of running government. Organization X is which of the following? Interest group Political action committee (PAC) Political party Organization X could be any of the above. The answer is C.

Party Organization

Overview Temporary Organization Permanent Organization The temporary organization assembles in election years to conduct the party’s business particular to that year’s election, such as certifying candidates, drafting a party platform*, and participating in the national presidential election process. The permanent organization is the party’s on-going organization structure that conducts the business of the party during, after, and before elections, including raising money, recruiting candidates, and supporting the party’s candidates. * A platform is a written statement of party principles and issue positions.

Temporary party organization

This happens in the spring of even-numbered years. Precinct Meetings Party voters meet on the evening of the March primary in even-numbered years at their voting precincts to select delegates to district or county conventions. Citizens can attend the precinct meeting of the party whose primary they voted in. Turnout is usually light, especially in non-presidential years. This happens in the spring of even-numbered years.

District or County Conventions Delegates chosen at the precinct meetings attend the district or county party conventions held on a Saturday two weeks later. The main purpose of the district party conventions is to elect delegates to the state party convention. The number of delegates an election precinct may send to the county or district convention depends on the size of the vote in that precinct for the party's candidate in the last governor's election.

State Party Conventions The state convention certifies party nominees for the fall general election, adopts a state party platform, elects the state party chairperson and vice-chairperson, chooses members of the state executive committee, and selects individuals to serve on the national party executive committee. This happens in June of even-numbered years.

In Presidential Election Years In presidential election years, the state party convention selects delegates to the national party convention. In addition to selecting delegates to the national party convention, each state party convention also names a slate of potential presidential electors to cast the Electoral College votes for Texas should the party's presidential candidate carry the state in the November general election.

Permanent organization

Chairs and Committees Each party has precinct chairs, a county chair and a county committee, a state chair, and a state committee. Forming the base of the permanent party organization are the precinct chairpersons, elected by party voters in each of the state's precincts, except in those areas where one party is so weak that no one can be found to accept the job. Precinct chairpersons conduct primary elections by staffing the polling place on Election Day. They may also work to organize the precinct for their party.

County Committee The county executive committee includes all the precinct chairpersons in the county and the county chairperson, who is elected by party voters countywide. The county executive committee receives filing petitions and fees from primary election candidates for countywide offices and is responsible for placing candidate names on the ballot. The county executive committee also arranges for county and district conventions.

State Committee The state executive committee includes the party chair, vice-chair, and a committeeman and committeewoman representing each of the 31 state senatorial districts. The main duties of the state committees are to certify statewide candidates for the March primary, arrange state party conventions, raise money for party candidates, and, in general, promote the party. State party chairs also serve as media spokespersons for their party.

Party Organization

What We Have Learned What are political parties and how do they differ from interest groups? What is the two-party system and what are third parties? Has Texas always been a two-party state? What is the temporary organization of political parties in Texas? What is the permanent organization of political parties in Texas?