Chapter 10Chapter 10

Section 2Section 2

Political Party OrganizationPolitical Party Organization

Party OrganizationParty Organization Political parties exists to nominate & Political parties exists to nominate &

elect candidates to officeelect candidates to office1.1. An effective party must be well An effective party must be well

organized.organized.2.2. Party must be organized at national, Party must be organized at national,

state and local levels.state and local levels.3.3. Must be able to raise money to pay for Must be able to raise money to pay for

campaigns .campaigns .4.4. Must be able to plan campaign Must be able to plan campaign

strategies.strategies.

Decentralized Nature of Decentralized Nature of PartiesParties

Parties are decentralized, fragmented Parties are decentralized, fragmented and have factionsand have factions

No party has clear chain of command No party has clear chain of command that runs from national to state levelthat runs from national to state level

Local party organization often Local party organization often independent of state organizationsindependent of state organizations

Reasons for Reasons for DecentralizationDecentralization

1.1. FederalismFederalism Half a million elected officesHalf a million elected offices Distributed at national, state, and local Distributed at national, state, and local

levellevel

Major parties are decentralized to serve a Major parties are decentralized to serve a decentralized governmentdecentralized government

Reasons for Reasons for DecentralizationDecentralization

2.2. Nominating Process Nominating Process Candidates chosen from within partyCandidates chosen from within party Fight over nominationFight over nomination DivisiveDivisive

National PartyNational Party

1.1. The National ConventionThe National Convention Picks presidential and vice presidential Picks presidential and vice presidential

candidatescandidates Creates party rulesCreates party rules Writes party platformWrites party platform

National PartyNational Party

2.2. The National CommitteeThe National Committee Handles affairs of the partyHandles affairs of the party Includes committee members from Includes committee members from

each stateeach state Stages national conventionStages national convention

National PartyNational Party

3.3. National ChairpersonNational Chairperson Leader of National Committee Leader of National Committee Chosen to 4 year term by National Committee Chosen to 4 year term by National Committee

after National Conventionafter National Convention

-- Often actually chosen by Presidential Often actually chosen by Presidential CandidateCandidate

Directs party headquartersDirects party headquarters Works to promote party unity, raise money, Works to promote party unity, raise money,

recruit voters, prepare for electionsrecruit voters, prepare for elections

National PartyNational Party

4.4. Congressional Campaign CommitteesCongressional Campaign Committees Work to reelect members of CongressWork to reelect members of Congress Unseat incumbents of other partyUnseat incumbents of other party

State and Local PartyState and Local Party

State OrganizationState Organization State Central Committee State Central Committee Headed by State ChairpersonHeaded by State Chairperson Work for party interest in StateWork for party interest in State

-- Build organization, find candidates, raise Build organization, find candidates, raise fundsfunds

State and Local PartyState and Local Party

Local OrganizationLocal Organization Varies from state to stateVaries from state to state Follow electoral map of the stateFollow electoral map of the state

- districts, counties, cities, townsdistricts, counties, cities, towns Cities divided into wards for election of city Cities divided into wards for election of city

council memberscouncil members Precinct- smallest unit, each precinct Precinct- smallest unit, each precinct

reports to one polling placereports to one polling place

Components of the PartyComponents of the Party

1.1. Party OrganizationParty Organization Leaders, activists, fund raisersLeaders, activists, fund raisers

2.2. Party in the ElectorateParty in the Electorate Loyal voters Loyal voters

3.3. Party in Government Party in Government Elected officials, officeholders Elected officials, officeholders

Financing CampaignsFinancing Campaigns

Running for political office is expensiveRunning for political office is expensive Effective candidates need to be able to Effective candidates need to be able to

raise money to pay for advertising and raise money to pay for advertising and organizationorganization

Private Financing Private Financing

Direct contributions to political party or Direct contributions to political party or candidate by:candidate by:

Voters, business groups, labor unions Voters, business groups, labor unions and other organizations.and other organizations.

How might private How might private donations influence a donations influence a political candidate? political candidate?

Campaign FinancingCampaign Financing

Federal Election Campaign Act (1972)Federal Election Campaign Act (1972) Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) Limit political contributions Limit political contributions

($2,100 for primary and $2100 for general elections)($2,100 for primary and $2100 for general elections)

Required candidates to disclose names Required candidates to disclose names of donorsof donors

Enforced by the Federal Elections Enforced by the Federal Elections Commission Commission

Campaign FinancingCampaign Financing

Individuals and groups can still make Individuals and groups can still make unlimited donations to activities that are unlimited donations to activities that are not directly part of the candidates not directly part of the candidates campaigncampaign

““Soft Money”Soft Money”

Public Financing Public Financing

Money donated by taxpayers used to pay Money donated by taxpayers used to pay for presidential election campaignsfor presidential election campaigns

-- Optional $3 donationOptional $3 donation

Public FinancingPublic Financing

Primary CampaignPrimary Campaign To receive money, must raise at least $5,000 in To receive money, must raise at least $5,000 in

private donations from 20 statesprivate donations from 20 states Candidates receive matching funds ($1 Candidates receive matching funds ($1

raised, $1 from gov’t)raised, $1 from gov’t) Limits the amount of money a campaign can Limits the amount of money a campaign can

spendspend 2008= $42.05 Million2008= $42.05 Million

Public FinancingPublic Financing

General ElectionGeneral Election Candidates who accept public financing Candidates who accept public financing

cannot accept private contributionscannot accept private contributions Camping's paid for only with public fundsCamping's paid for only with public funds 2008= $84.1 Million2008= $84.1 Million

2008 Elections2008 Elections

Barack Obama opted out of public Barack Obama opted out of public financingfinancing

-- Raised $336 million from individuals Raised $336 million from individuals John McCain raised $120 Million form John McCain raised $120 Million form

individualsindividuals