Party Organization and Functions

Party Organization and Functions

Party Organization• Party Memberships

– 2 Major American Parties: Republicans and Democrats

– No formal requirements for membership – affiliation declared at registration

Organization• Local: Grassroots, the underestimated force

– Divided by precincts, led by Precinct captain – neighboring precincts form Wards, represented at county

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 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

Party FunctionsRecruit candidates• Most important

function– must be appealing,

share basic ideology

Educate the Public• take positions on

important issues• Frame the opposition

Party FunctionsOperate the government• agendas in line with party

platforms• ties together branchesDispense patronage• jobs, appointments,

contracts• The Pendleton Act (1883)

Party FunctionsThe Loyal Opposition• provides alternative to

party in power• fights to preserve the

rights of the minorityReduce conflict• builds coalitions of

interest groups• moderate policies, mass

appeal

Nominating Candidates• Historical Methods

→Caucus … still used, most notably in Iowa

→National Convention• Direct Primary System

→Determine votes of Convention Delegates

→Closed vs. Open Primary→Caucuses vs. primaries

• Criticisms:→Front loading; Image over issues

The National Convention• Pre-election meeting of

the national party• Bound vs. Unbound

delegates• Superdelegates• Determines the party’s

ticket & finalizes the platform

• 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 System2.Voter Opinion3.State Laws

Minor Parties• Ideological • One-issue • Economic-protest• Factional