Party Organization and Functions

Party Organization Party Memberships Party Memberships – 2 Major American Parties: Republicans and Democrats – No formal requirements for membership – affiliation declared at registration

Organization Local: Grassroots, the underestimated force Local: Grassroots, the underestimated force – Divided by precincts, led by Precinct captain – neighboring precincts form Wards, represented at county committee State: State Central Committee State: State Central Committee – made up of county representatives, led by state chairperson – help elect members to state government positions National: Three Parts National: Three Parts – National Convention: meets every four years to elect party’s candidate for POTUS – National Committee: led my national chairperson, runs party operations and raises money – Congressional campaign committee: raises money and identifies candidate to run in congressional elections

Party Functions

Recruit candidates Most important function Most important function – must be appealing, share basic ideology Educate the Public take positions on important issues take positions on important issues Frame the opposition Frame the opposition

Party Functions Operate the government agendas in line with party platforms agendas in line with party platforms ties together branches ties together branches Dispense patronage jobs, appointments, contracts jobs, appointments, contracts The Pendleton Act (1883) The Pendleton Act (1883)

Party Functions The Loyal Opposition provides alternative to party in power provides alternative to party in power fights to preserve the rights of the minority fights to preserve the rights of the minority Reduce conflict builds coalitions of interest groups builds coalitions of interest groups moderate policies, mass appeal moderate policies, mass appeal

Nominating Candidates Historical Methods Historical Methods → Caucus … still used, most notably in Iowa → National Convention Direct Primary System Direct Primary System → Determine votes of Convention Delegates → Closed vs. Open Primary → Caucuses vs. primaries Criticisms: Criticisms: → Front loading; Image over issues

The National Convention Pre-election meeting of the national party Pre-election meeting of the national party Bound vs. Unbound delegates Bound vs. Unbound delegates Superdelegates Superdelegates Determines the party’s ticket & finalizes the platform Determines the party’s ticket & finalizes the platform Criticism: operates more as a pep rally than serious meeting Criticism: operates more as a pep rally than serious meeting

Ticket splitting and voting for the opposition

WHY HAS THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM PERSISTED IN THE UNITED STATES? 1.Plurality System 2.Voter Opinion 3.State Laws Minor Parties Ideological Ideological One-issue One-issue Economic-protest Economic-protest Factional Factional