Organization of American

Political Parties

Chapter 9.2

P223-226

National Party Organization

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

Each party has a national committeemade up of representatives from every state.

It raises funds for presidential elections and organizes the party’s national convention.

A national party chairperson runs the committee.

National Party Organization

At the national convention, party

delegates from all states write the

platform and nominate candidates for

president and vice president.

Each party chooses delegates in primary

elections and caucuses, or meetings, of

state and local party organizations.

National Party Organization

Historically, national conventions were

suspenseful.

Today, primary elections generally decide

the nominations before the conventions

take place.

National Party Organization

Both parties also have House and Senate

campaign committees made up of

members of Congress.

The work to elect party members as

senators and representatives.

National Party Organization

What have national committees

been doing in recent years?

In recent years, the committees have

created Web sites with information about

candidates and positions. They recruit

candidates, teach them effective campaign

strategies, and give them some campaign

funds. They also create television and

radio advertisements.

State and Local Organization

Each party has 50 state organizations that

work to elect their party’s candidates for

national office.

Local party organizations consist of city,

town, and county committees.

They include the party’s elected officials.

State and Local Organization

Each city or county is divided into election

districts or precincts.

A precinct is a geographic area that

contains a specific number of voters.

It may be an entire small town or part of a

large city.

All voters in a precinct use the same

voting place.

State and Local Organization

A precinct captain organizes other party

volunteers and encourages people to vote.

Several adjoining precincts make up a

ward.

A volunteer represents the ward at the

party’s county committee.

State and Local Organization

Counties are the largest political units in a

state.

A county chairperson runs the county

committee and has great power if the

county is large.

State and Local Organization

Local party people build support at the

“grassroots” level.

Local leaders must know how their

neighbors feel about issues important to

them.

At election time they must “deliver the

vote” for party candidates at every level.

State and Local Organization

In the past, some local party organizations

became so powerful that they were called

political machines.

In the 1800s and early 1900s, the

Tammany Hall organization ruled New

York City.

Its leader, “Boss” Tweed, grew rich from

bribes and kickbacks.

State and Local Organization

At a time when no social service agencies

existed, political machines provided needy

citizens with jobs, food, and other services

in return for votes.

Membership in a political party's not

required, but it offers a way for citizens to

be involved in politics.

State and Local Organization

The only duty is to vote.

Members can choose to contribute money,

do volunteer work, or help with election

campaigns.

State and Local Organization

Why do most people today

consider political machines

harmful?

When one party is in power for too long, it

may become unresponsive to the needs of

the community. Political leaders are less

accountable to citizens when the leaders

do not have to worry about getting

reelected.