1. Party Organization

2. Decentralized Nature of Parties
How well organized do you think they are?
Both are decentralized
Fragmented, disjointed, beset by factions and internal squabbling
Chain of Command
Neither party has central command from national to state to local organizations.
These parts usually co-operate with each other
Local party organizations are rarely tied to State organizations

3. Role of Presidency Presidents party is more solidly united Other party
President is automatically the party leader
Asserts leadership in various tools
Media, popularity, federal appointments
Other party
Has no clear leader
Typically group of people are identified as leadership

4. Role of Nominating Process
Nominating Candidates
Intraparty process
Nominations are made only within the party
Nominating process is a divisive one
Members of same party battle it out
This is a cause of the fragmentation of the party
Its hard to accept defeat and smile

5. National Party Machinery
Both parties follow a format to keep the machine running
There are 4 basic elements for national party

6. National Convention Party’s national voice No other authority
Nominate Presidential candidate
Adopts the party’s rules
Writes the platform for the party
No other authority
No control over selection of party’s candidates for other offices
No control over policy stands for these other nominees

7. National Committee Handle party affairs between conventions
Traditional composition
Committeeman and committeewoman from each state & some territories
Chosen by states party organization
However both committee’s have changed in the last few years

8. Republican National Committee (RNC)
Members from each state and…
District of Columbia, Guan, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
National Federation of Republican Women
Also have some members

9. Democratic National Committee (DNC)
Much larger
Includes members from each state
Party’s chairperson and vice chairperson
Several territories
Includes additional members from the party organizations of larger states
Up to 75 at-large members chosen by the DNC
Several members of Congress, governors, and mayors

10. National Committee Looks powerful on paper
Filled with prominent members of each party
In reality it has little power
Stages party’s national convention every 4 years

11. National Chairperson Leader of National Committee
Chosen by nomination from Presidential candidate
Approved by the national committee
Directs work of party’s headquarters
Focus on convention during election year
In-between elections
Strengthen the party
Promote unity, raise money, recruit voters

12. Congressional Campaign Committees
One in each house of Congress for each party
Chosen by colleagues and serve two years
Work to reelect incumbents
Make sure seats stay in the party
Try to oust competitors from other seats
When it seems likely the incumbent could lose

13. State and Local Party Machinery
Regarding National Party organization
Largely based on custom
Rules adopted at national conventions
State and Local
Structure is usually set by State law

14. State Organization State Central Committee Chairperson
Headed by State chairperson
Chairperson
May be an important politician
Usually fronts for the Governor, or Senator, etc
Further parties interest in the State
Build up organization
Focus on party unity
Find good candidates
Raise campaign funds
Hard job when people don’t get along

15. Local Organization Vary widely, hard to make description
Follow electoral map of the State
Party unit for each district with elective office
Congressional and legislative districts, counties, cities, and towns, wards, and precincts
Ward
Unit into which cities are divided
Divided for election of city council members
Precinct
Smallest unit of election administration
Voters in each precinct report to 1 polling place.

16. Local Organization Cont.
Large cities
Organization broken down by residential blocks
In some cases even by apartment building
Activity
Most tend to be inactive during the year
Very busy during election months

17. Three Components of the Party
Party organization
The leaders, activists who run the party machinery
Party in the electorate
Party loyalists who vote straight party ticket
Party in government
Party’s officeholders at all levels of government

18. Future of Major Parties
Political parties have never been very popular
Many Americans have mixed feelings regarding them
Considered by many as a necessary evil
Decline
Parties have been on the decline since the late 1960s
We may witness a collapse during our lifetime

19. Five Factors that Weakened Parties
Sharp drop in number of voters willing to identify themselves with major party. Also growing number of Independents
Big increase in split-ticket-voting. Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices during same election
Structural changes that have made parties “more open” which led to greater internal conflict and disorganization
Including direct primary election in early 1900s
Recent changes to campaign finance laws

20. Five Factors that Weakened Parties
4. Changes of campaign technology.
Heavy use of TV, internet, direct mail, phone calls
5. Growth of single-issue organizations
Interests groups pick sides for or against candidates
Political Action Committee (PAC’s)
Raise and fund candidates campaigns
Candidate doesn’t need to rely on party for funding

21. Political Parties Love hate relationship
Lots of people hate them, for good reason
However they offer the ability to make government work
Perform many necessary functions for the government
Without parties its not clear what would happen