Party OrganizationParty Organization

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Section 4Section 4

KEY TERMSKEY TERMS

►WardWard►PrecinctPrecinct

Decentralized Nature of Decentralized Nature of PartiesParties

►Described as Described as Close knit, Well disciplined, Well organized Close knit, Well disciplined, Well organized

►They really areThey really are FragmentedFragmented Plagued by factionsPlagued by factions Internal squabblingInternal squabbling

►Neither party has a chain of command Neither party has a chain of command that goes from nation- state-localthat goes from nation- state-local

Role of the PresidencyRole of the Presidency

►Usually more organized then the other Usually more organized then the other partyparty

►President- automatic leaderPresident- automatic leader►Ready access to mediaReady access to media►Personal popularityPersonal popularity►Power to make appoinmentsPower to make appoinments

► Impact of FederalismImpact of Federalism Major reason for decentralizationMajor reason for decentralization Basic goal of parties is to gain controlBasic goal of parties is to gain control

Nominating ProcessNominating Process

►Major cause of party decentralizationMajor cause of party decentralization►Candidate selection is on intraparty Candidate selection is on intraparty

basisbasis►Pits members against membersPits members against members►Republicans fight RepublicansRepublicans fight Republicans►Democrats fight DemocratsDemocrats fight Democrats►Prime function of parties is the making Prime function of parties is the making

of nominations of nominations

National Party machineNational Party machine

►Both parties composed of 5 elementsBoth parties composed of 5 elements►1. The National Convention1. The National Convention

Picks Presidential and Vice-Presidential Picks Presidential and Vice-Presidential CandidatesCandidates

Adopt party rules and platformAdopt party rules and platform Has little authorityHas little authority Helps to make peace amongst the Helps to make peace amongst the

factionsfactions

►2. The National Committee2. The National Committee Between the conventions they handle the Between the conventions they handle the

party’s affairsparty’s affairs Composed of Committee men and women Composed of Committee men and women

from each statefrom each state Chosen by part organizationChosen by part organization RNC also seats members from D.C., RNC also seats members from D.C.,

Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Virgin Islands

►DNCDNC Larger bodyLarger body Committee peopleCommittee people Chair and Vice-Chairperson from each Chair and Vice-Chairperson from each

state and territoriesstate and territories Now include dozens of members from Now include dozens of members from

larger stateslarger states

►On paper appears powerfulOn paper appears powerful►Loaded with leading party figuresLoaded with leading party figures►Do not have a lot of cloutDo not have a lot of clout►Most center on the party’s strategy of Most center on the party’s strategy of

the conventionthe convention

►3. National Chairperson3. National Chairperson►Each party has oneEach party has one►Chosen for a 4 year termChosen for a 4 year term►Only two have been women Only two have been women

Jean Westwood 1972 DNCJean Westwood 1972 DNC Mary Louis Smith 1974 RNCMary Louis Smith 1974 RNC

►Direct party headquarters in Direct party headquarters in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

►Presidential elections and focuses on Presidential elections and focuses on the conventionthe convention

►Works to strengthen partyWorks to strengthen party►Promote unityPromote unity►Raise moneyRaise money

►4. Congressional Campaign Committee4. Congressional Campaign Committee Committee for each houseCommittee for each house Work to re-elect incumbentsWork to re-elect incumbents Get open seats to party membersGet open seats to party members Unseat incumbents of the other partyUnseat incumbents of the other party Chosen by their colleaguesChosen by their colleagues

►State and Local machineryState and Local machinery►National largely product of custom and National largely product of custom and

rulesrules►States and local determined by state States and local determined by state

lawlaw

►4. State Organization4. State Organization State Central committeeState Central committee Chairperson chosen by the committeeChairperson chosen by the committee Person fronts for the Governor or SenatorPerson fronts for the Governor or Senator Composed of members from several Composed of members from several

geographical areasgeographical areas Meet infrequentlyMeet infrequently Chairperson and central committee work Chairperson and central committee work

together to further party’s interest in the together to further party’s interest in the statestate

►5. Local Organization5. Local Organization Vary widelyVary widely Follow electoral map of the stateFollow electoral map of the state Divided into ward, precinctsDivided into ward, precincts WARD-WARD- is a unit in which cities are divided is a unit in which cities are divided

for the electionfor the election PRECINCT-PRECINCT- is the smallest unit of election is the smallest unit of election

administration voters cast ballots at one administration voters cast ballots at one polling place polling place

Sometimes broken down into residential Sometimes broken down into residential blocksblocks