4. Party Organization
How are political parties organized at the federal, State, and local levels?

5. Political Parties:
Are they organized, close-knit, well-disciplined groups?? Or
Are they highly decentralized, fragmented, and plagued with factions and internal squabble?

6. 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

7. 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

8. National Party Machine (at the National Level)
5 basic elements
The national Convention
The National Committee
The National Chairperson
Congressional Campaign Committees

9. 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
The National Committee
The National Convention
The National Committee

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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