Political Parties Chapter 5

Political Party Organization Section 4 Political Party Organization

The Decentralized Nature of the Parties Parties are not as highly organized, close-knit, and well-disciplined as they seem. Parties are often highly decentralized, fragmented, and often plagued by factions and internal squabbling. Party of the presidency is always more united than the party who does not control the presidency. President automatically becomes the leader of the party. Decentralization of American government leads to decentralization of American political parties. The nominating process highlights the factions that exist within political parties and their decentralized nature.

National Party Machinery The National Convention Meets during presidential election years to pick presidential candidates and adopt platform. The National Committee Representatives of each state and territory who are meant to handle the operations of the party at the national level. The National Chairperson Leader of the national committee who directs the work of the party’s headquarters and its professional staff. The Congressional Campaign Committees Committees for each house of Congress work to get party members to fill as many seats as possible.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic National Chair Reince Priebus, Republican National Chair

State and Local Party Machinery The State Organization Most often state parties are headed by a chairperson and a central committee that seeks to further the party’s interests in the state. Local Organization Varies from State to State Colorado has county organizations Wards (subdivisions of cities) Precinct (smallest unit of election administration)

Colorado Democratic Chair Colorado Republican Chair Rick Palacio, Colorado Democratic Chair Ryan Call, Colorado Republican Chair