The Last Word: Assignment 3 due

tomorrow

Consider: How much control do national parties exert over state and local parties?

The Organization of Political Parties

Unit 3: AP Government and Politics

FIGURE 11.3: How are political partiesorganized?

11.2The National Party The national chairperson

Chief fundraiser and spokesperson Republican National Chairman (2 year term)- Reince Priebus

On January 14, 2011, after seven rounds of voting, Priebus was

elected chairman of the Republican National Committee; incumbent

chairman Michael Steele had bowed out of the race after trailing in

the early rounds of voting.’ **Re-elected in 2013

Democratic Nat’l Chairperson- Debbie Wasserman-Schultz On April 5, 2011, Vice President Joe Biden announced that

Wasserman Schultz was President Barack Obama's choice to

succeed Tim Kaine as the 52nd Chair of the Democratic National

Committee. Elected by the vote of the DNC members; she “joins

President Obama at the helm” of the party

11.2The National Party The national committee

Coordinates national convention and presidential campaign Democratic National Committee (DNC) Republican National Committee (RNC)

http://www.gop.com/

http://www.democrats.org/

The Last Word: Assignment 4 due Tuesday; Hayden Monday

Consider: What do political parties do?

11.2The National Convention Every four years

Present a positive image of the candidate Serve as pep rallies The Message:

Delegates Formerly selected by party leaders, now often elected

in primary elections and caucuses

Superdelegates Who are they? Allow Democratic Party elites some control over which

candidate gets nominated Controversial; are they democratic?

11.2State and Local Parties

Roots of the party Virtually all government regulation of political parties is

handled by the states Vast majority of party leadership positions are held at

state and local level.

Precinct Smallest voting unit; fundamental building block of the

party

Levels of party involvement• Party rank-and-file

– People who register and vote for the party regularly

• Party regulars– Work the polls, take non-leadership roles in party, contribute money;

getting candidate elected most important

• Party activists– Deeply concerned about party functions, highly involved in electoral

process; donate funds– Demand a strong voice in local and state party policy

• Party purists– Put ideology ahead of winning elections; will withhold support if they

disagree with candidate

11.2Informal Groups Official and semi-official groups

Affiliations of state and local party women Affiliations with college campus organizations

Supportive interest groups Provide money and labor; labor unions, chambers of

commerce

Think tanks Institutional collections of policy-oriented researchers

and academics Heritage Foundation, Council on Foreign Relations

What Political Parties Do

Unit 3: AP Government and Politics

11.3Running Candidates for Office Raising money

Well-developed networks of donors Raise money and disseminate it to candidates

11.3Running Candidates for Office

Mobilizing support and getting out the vote Public opinion polls and tracking surveys Create TV advertisements “Get out the vote” Election Day activities

Formulating and Promoting Policy National Party Platform

Most visible instrument used to formulate, convey, and promote public policy

Each party develops a lengthy platform outlining its positions

Programs of 2/3rds of winning party and ½ of losing party at least partly enacted.

11.3Organizing Government The presidential party

President is informal party leader

Parties in the federal courts Judges are creatures of party, despite the fact that they

are not elected

Parties in state government Candidates at state level rely more on party for support Governors much more involved in legislature in many

states Some state judges appointed by nonpartisan

commission (Missouri system), and some are elected (criticized by some)

Party Unity “scores”

Explore Political Parties: Which Party Governs Better?

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_oconnor_mpslag_12/pex/pex11.html

11.3