Chapter 9.2Chapter 9.2

Organization of American Political Organization of American Political PartiesParties

National Party OrganizationNational Party Organization

The goal that unites a party’s national, The goal that unites a party’s national, state and local organizations is to help the state and local organizations is to help the party win as many offices as possible.party win as many offices as possible.

Each party has a Each party has a national committeenational committee made up of representatives from every made up of representatives from every state. It raises funds for presidential state. It raises funds for presidential elections and organizes the party’s elections and organizes the party’s national convention. A national convention. A national party national party chairpersonchairperson runs the committee. runs the committee.

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At the national convention, party At the national convention, party delegatesdelegates from all states write the from all states write the platform and nominate candidates for platform and nominate candidates for president and vice president. Each party president and vice president. Each party chooses delegates in primary elections chooses delegates in primary elections and and caucusescaucuses, or meetings, of state and , or meetings, of state and local party organizations.local party organizations.

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Historically, national conventions were Historically, national conventions were suspenseful. Today, primary elections suspenseful. Today, primary elections generally decide the nominations before generally decide the nominations before the conventions take place.the conventions take place.

Both parties also have House and Senate Both parties also have House and Senate campaign committees made up of campaign committees made up of members of Congress. They work to elect members of Congress. They work to elect party members as senators and party members as senators and representatives.representatives.

State and Local OrganizationState and Local Organization

Each party has 50 state organizations that Each party has 50 state organizations that work to elect their party’s candidates for work to elect their party’s candidates for national office.national office.

Local party organizations consist of city, Local party organizations consist of city, town and county committees. They town and county committees. They include the party’s elected officials.include the party’s elected officials.

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Each city or county is divided into election Each city or county is divided into election districts or precincts. A districts or precincts. A precinctprecinct is a is a geographic area that contains a specific geographic area that contains a specific number of voters. It may be an entire number of voters. It may be an entire small town or part of a large city. All small town or part of a large city. All voters in a precinct use the same voting voters in a precinct use the same voting place.place.

A precinct captain organizes other party A precinct captain organizes other party volunteers and encourages people to vote.volunteers and encourages people to vote.

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Several adjoining precincts make up a Several adjoining precincts make up a wardward. A volunteer represents the ward at . A volunteer represents the ward at the party’s county committee.the party’s county committee.

Counties are the largest political units in a Counties are the largest political units in a state. A state. A county chairpersoncounty chairperson runs the runs the county committee and has great power if county committee and has great power if the county is large.the county is large.

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Local party people build support at the Local party people build support at the “grassroots” level. Local leaders must “grassroots” level. Local leaders must know how their neighbors feel about know how their neighbors feel about issues important to them. At election time issues important to them. At election time they must “deliver the vote” for party they must “deliver the vote” for party candidates at every level.candidates at every level.

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In the past, some local party organizations In the past, some local party organizations became so powerful that they were called became so powerful that they were called political machinespolitical machines. In the 1800s and . In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Tammany Hall early 1900s, the Tammany Hall organization ruled New York City. Its organization ruled New York City. Its leader, “Boss” Tweed, grew rich from leader, “Boss” Tweed, grew rich from bribes and kickbacks.bribes and kickbacks.

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At a time when no social service agencies At a time when no social service agencies existed, political machines provided needy existed, political machines provided needy citizens with jobs, food and other services in citizens with jobs, food and other services in return for votes.return for votes.

Membership in a political party is not required, Membership in a political party is not required, but it offers a way for citizens to be involved in but it offers a way for citizens to be involved in politics. The only duty is to vote. Members can politics. The only duty is to vote. Members can choose to contribute money, do volunteer work, choose to contribute money, do volunteer work, or help with election campaigns.or help with election campaigns.