Post on 12-Jan-2016
Government
Organization of American Political Parties
Section 2
Key Terms
• National Committee: Representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party.
• National Party Chairperson: Individual elected by the national committee who manages the daily operations of the national party.
• Caucus: A meeting of political party members to conduct party business.
• Precinct: A geographic area that contains a specific number of voters.
• Ward: Several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit.
• County Chairperson: A person who runs a county committee, often having a great deal of political power in the county.
• Political Machine: A strong party organizations that can control political appointments and deliver votes.
National Party Organization
• Both Major Parties hold national conventions
• Parties are organized at local, state and national levels
• United to help the party win as many offices as possible
National Committee
• Run by the National Chairperson– Manage the office
– Direct committee staff
– Lead fund-raising efforts
National Convention
• Held every four years– Why?
• Delegates nominate candidates for Pres. and V.P.
• Choose delegates through presidential primary elections and caucuses
Delegates
• Each party writes their Platform– May be difficult
• Why?• Party member differences
• Nominate candidate• Speeches and
demonstrations– Support
Senate Campaign Committees
• Both parties have them• Made up of members
of congress• Work to help elect
party members as senators and reps.
State and Local Organization
• Each party have 50 state committees or organizations
• Some weak, some strong
– Money, staff, organization
• Focus on electing party candidates to state offices
– Governor
– Attorney general
– State legislators
• Work to elect party candidate to national offices
Precinct/District
• All cities and counties divided into districts or precincts
• May consist of:– Entire town
– Group of neighborhoods
• Voters in precinct cast vote at same place
Precinct Captain
• Volunteer– Organize party volunteers during campaigns– Encourage people to vote
Ward
• Several adjoining precincts
• Each ward elects a volunteer to represent the ward at the county committee
County Committees
• Largest political unit in the state
• Both parties have them
• County chairperson runs the committee– Person had political power in the county
Local Party People
• Very important• Higher-level party
leaders depend on them– Build party at the
“grassroots”
• Want to know the important issues
Political Machines
• Local party organizations became powerful– Swept elections year after
year
• Give needed people:– Jobs– Food– Fuel– Help with medical care
• Why?– votes