1. National Party Structure Today

2. National Party Structure
Both Republicans and Democrats have similar organizational structures
A brief introduction…
National Convention
A meeting of party delegates to nominate presidential candidate
National Committee
Chosen at convention to run party affairs for next 4 years
National Chairperson
Day-to-day party manager elected by the national committee

3. Differences RNC moved to bureaucratic structure
Well-financed
Used technology to raise $$
Created national firm of political consultants
Democrats were factionalized
And lost because of it
Learned from Republicans and caught up

4. National Convention Officially nominate party’s presidential candidate
Not that important…only ratify choices made in primary
Develop party platform
Formulas used to allocate delegates to the conventions (vary from state to state) and rules have changes a lot
Democrats reward large states
Republicans reward loyal states
Democrats also have superdelegates – elected officials; don’t have to commit to a candidate beforehand, therefore can vote for any despite the primary
Delegates tend to be more liberal than ordinary Democratic voters and more conservative than Republicans
It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s a superdegelate!

5. National Chairperson Selected by party’s presidential candidate
Serves as spokesperson for the party
Establishes national headquarters, raises campaign funds, etc.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrats
Reince Priebus, Republicans

6. State Party Structure
Real strength and power of a national party is at the state level
No “average” state party structure because all 50 are different, but most have some organizational features in common
State party chairperson
State central committee
Responsible for policy decisions of party’s state convention
Composed of members representing congressional districts, state legislative districts, or counties

7. Local Party Organization
The Political Machine
Recruits members via tangible incentives/rewards
Ideological Parties
Principle is more important than winning elections
Ex. Socialist
Solidary Groups
Members motivated by social/personal incentives
Sponsored Parties
Created or sustained by another organization
Ex. Democratic ties to unions
Personal Following
Political support provided to candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks
Ex. Kennedys

8. The Two-Party System Rare Why has it endured?
Electoral System: Winner-take-all
Opinions of voters: 2 broad coalitions work and balance each other, also “wasting” vote on 3rd party
State and federal laws make it hard for 3rd parties to break through

9. Minor Parties Ideological parties- comprehensive radical view
Most enduring
Ex. Socialist, Communist, Libertarian
One-issue parties- address one concern, avoid others
Ex. Free Soil, Know-Nothing, Prohibition
Economic protest parties- regional, protest economy
Ex. Greenback, Populist
Factional parties- from split in major party, usually over pres. Nominee
Ex. Bull Moose, Henry Wallace Democrats, American Independent Party

10. Impact of Minor Parties
Develop ideas that major parties later adopt
Influence public policy
Affect outcomes of elections?