Organization of Parties

<h1>Text Preview</h1> <p> <P>Political parties in America are organized much like the federal government—each has offices at the national, state, and local levels. Each level has a committee and chairperson to oversee party activities.<br></P> <P>A party’s <b>national committee,</b> headed by a <b>national chairperson</b>, is comprised of state chairpersons and other delegates. The purpose of the national committee is to guide the party between elections and help promote the party throughout the states. <br></P> <P>The national committee also organizes the party’s <b>national convention</b>, which meets during election years to formalize the nomination of a presidential candidate, as well as outline the party’s platform. However, the national convention is weakening, partially from the growth of private fundraising and use of the primary system, in which party members vote to decide who will represent their party in the general election. In the past, political parties used to drive the nomination process, but today, they have little to do with selecting the presidential candidates. Essentially, the national political nominating conventions are little more than huge pep rallies for the predetermined candidate.</P> </p> <p> <P>Despite their waning influence in presidential nominations, political parties maintain influence at the national level through congressional campaign committees and the party members in office. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have congressional campaign committees, one each for the House of Representatives and the Senate. These committees work to re-elect incumbents and try to recruit new nominees.<br></P> <P>The national party organization loosely connects the state and local offices. <b>State committees</b> do many of the same things as national committees—solidify the party, find new candidates for state offices, and raise campaign funds. Every state has its own party committees, but these committees’ agendas may or may not mirror those at the national and local levels. The chairpersons of the state committees typically act on behalf of people already in office, such as senators or governors.</P> </p> <p> <P>During election years, the state committees become very active and visible. For example, they host fundraisers and circulate literature about key issues on the party agenda, or platform. In many states, the parties’ committees help organize <b>primary elections</b>, which select the candidates for the upcoming general election.<br></P> <P>Between elections, the parties disappear from the public view and concern themselves with state and national legislatures. They act as special interest groups and lobbyists, supporting the officeholders. The legislative and executive leaders, both state and federal, drive the party agendas between elections. Governors become the party leaders in their states, and the President becomes the national leader of his party.<br></P> <P><b>Local committees</b> are centered on state districts or precincts. These committees have a chairperson and work toward getting people to vote by sponsoring registration drives, recruiting new party members, and finding local candidates.</P> </p> <p> <P>During the late 1800s and well into the 1900s, some state and local committees became <b>political machines</b>, dominating party activities at their respective levels. In several large cities, such as New York, Kansas City, and Chicago, party committee members promised new recruits jobs, money, and other benefits in return for joining and voting the straight single-party ticket in elections. The Democratic Party was especially successful at recruiting immigrants by helping them get established upon entering the country. Using these modes of operation, the political parties functioned largely as welfare organizations, and they controlled elections through corrupt means.<br></P> <P>Political machines still exist today, but they do not operate the same as they did decades ago. The corruption has been curtailed in part by voter registration requirements and competitive-bidding laws. Also, today’s political machines are typically oriented toward special interests and focus less on social welfare activities.</P> </p> <p> <P>Within a political party, there are different roles and degrees of participation among party members. Many people are <b>rank-and-file members</b>. Beyond registering as a party member, nothing is required of them, and their main participation in politics is usually voting in primary and general elections. Rank-and-file members tend to vote straight party tickets in elections and follow the leads of local party officials. This membership is often compared to a large, slow-moving ocean vessel—once it has started in a direction, it is difficult to turn.<br></P> <P><b>Party regulars</b> are members who take more active roles in politics, such as working at the polls, taking non-leadership party roles, contributing money to campaigns, and voting along party lines. Party regulars tend to compromise on important issues, and they are mostly concerned with winning elections.<br></P> <P>Even more active in politics than party regulars are the <b>party activists</b>. These people are deeply concerned about party functions and become highly involved in the electoral process. They donate funds to the party and candidates, demand a voice in local and state party agendas, and tend to have strong belief in their party’s ideology.</P> </p> <p> <P>The highest level of political participation is found among <b>party purists</b>, who tend to be <b>ideologues</b>. They put issues ahead of winning elections and withhold support from candidates who do not share their stance on issues. Purists are usually very active in special interest groups and caucuses within the party. If purists feel like a party ignores their concerns, they break often away and form a third party.</P> </p> <p id="TextCopyright">Copyright 2006 The Regents of the University of California and Monterey Institute for Technology and Education</p>