Political Party Organization Chapter 10 Section 2

Party Organization Political parties exist for one reason: to nominate and elect candidates to office. Parties must be organized well at the local, state, and national level. Must be able to raise money to pay for its expenses Must nominate its candidate for office and plan its campaign strategies to get these candidates elected.

Local Organization Most important political party committees are at the local level. They are responsible for conducting all local campaigns. For elections, all counties, cities, and wards are divided into voting districts called precincts. Local voting districts in a county, city, or ward

Local Organization In each precinct, voters all vote at the same polling place. Where voting takes place Precinct leaders organize volunteers to distribute campaign literature, arrange to have voters with disabilities driven to the polling place, and have party workers telephone voters and urge them to vote for a party candidate.

Financing Campaigns Presidential campaigns are expensive In the 2004 Presidential election the candidates raised more than $900 million.

Private Financing Voters, business groups, labor unions, and many other organizations contribute money to the political party they like. People worry that those who contribute the most will get special favors if that candidate wins. Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA): Limits political contributions

Private Financing Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act: revised the contribution limits Required to report the name of each person who contributes $200 or more in a year. Limits individual contributions to $2,100 for primary and general elections Federal Election Commission enforces these laws

Private Financing Individuals and groups can still make unlimited contributions to activities, such as advertisements about issues, that are not a federal candidate’s campaign. Soft Money

Public Financing Presidential Election Campaign Fund: Americans can check a box on their income tax form to donate $3 from their taxes to the election fund. To be eligible to receive the funds each candidate must first raise at least $5,000 from private contributions in at least 20 states. Then they can receive a certain amount of the public fund

Public Financing They must agree to limit their spending in nomination campaigns. After winning the nomination of their party, presidential candidates who accept public financing cannot accept private contributions. Their campaigns must be paid for only with the public funds they receive.