Party Organization How are political parties organized at the federal, State, and local levels?
Political Parties: Are they organized, close-knit, well-disciplined groups?? Or Are they highly decentralized, fragmented, and plagued with factions and internal squabble?
Why is it so disorganized, in part it’s who you see President’s The ____________ party is always more united & better organized than the other major part’s leader President is automatically the leader of his party (once he/she gets into office) The power of being President The other party – won’t be as unified, several differ leader President’s
Why so messy? Impact of federalism The nomination process Democrats _____________ – major reason for decentralized nature It’s about winning votes! Because the gov’t is decentralized, so too are the major parties _______________– another major reason 1st - candidates are selected in an intraparty process candidate is nominated within the party (often with great debate and fighting! Fun stuff!!!)…..___________fight Dems for the nomination. _______________fight republicans for the nomination The nomination process Impact of federalism The nomination process Democrats Republicans Democrats Republicans
National Party Machine (at the National Level) 5 basic elements The national Convention The National Committee The National Chairperson Congressional Campaign Committees
The National Convention ___________________ – the party’s national voice Meet in the late summer of every Presidential election year to pick: Presidential Candidate VP Candidate Party Platform _________________ – between conventions, the party’s affairs are handle by the national committee and national Chairperson Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Composed of committeemen/women of each State, Wash. DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Appear strong, but really most of its work centers on staging the Convention every 4 years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWynt87PaJ0 The National Committee The National Convention The National Committee
The National Chairperson ___________________– leader of the National Committee Chosen to a four-year term by nat. committee, after nation convention Directs the work of the party’s headquarters and its professional staff in DC. Focused on national convention if election year, otherwise focus on strengthening the party Raise $$, promote unity, recruit new voters…. ________________________________ Has campaign committees in each House Work to reelect “incumbent” and make sure “open seats” remain in the party Congressional Campaign Committees The National Chairperson Congressional Campaign Committees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkINqJNzdQI
State and Local Party Machine Structure largely determined by State law In most States, State party structure is decentralized – usually built around State central committee, headed by a State chairperson Central committee composed usually of diff. county reps. Promote party unity, finding candidates, and campaign fund…. Local organizations – vary widely!! Usually follow electoral districts
Illinois district map - divided into 18 congressional districts, each represented by a member of the United States House of Representatives. Ward- a unit into which cities are often divided for election of city council area Precinct – the smallest unit of election administration – voters in each precinct cast their ballots at one polling place https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Vz8135qx4