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Party Organization and Functions

Party Organization and Functions. Party Organization. Party Memberships 2 Major American Parties: Republicans and Democrats No formal requirements for membership affiliation declared at registration . Organization. Local: Grassroots, the underestimated force

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Party Organization and Functions

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  1. Party Organization and Functions

  2. Party Organization • Party Memberships • 2 Major American Parties: Republicans and Democrats • No formal requirements for membership • affiliation declared at registration

  3. Organization • Local: Grassroots, the underestimated force • Divided by precincts, led by Precinct captain • neighboring precincts form Wards, represented at county committee • State: State Central Committee • made up of county representatives, led by state chairperson • help elect members to state government positions • National: Three Parts • National Convention: meets every four years to elect party’s candidate for POTUS • National Committee: led my national chairperson, runs party operations and raises money • Congressional campaign committee: raises money and identifies candidate to run in congressional elections

  4. Party Functions

  5. Party Functions Recruit candidates • Most important function • must be appealing, share basic ideology Educate the Public • take positions on important issues • Frame the opposition

  6. Party Functions Operate the government • agendas in line with party platforms • ties together branches Dispense patronage • jobs, appointments, contracts • The Pendleton Act (1883)

  7. Party Functions The Loyal Opposition • provides alternative to party in power • fights to preserve the rights of the minority Reduce conflict • builds coalitions of interest groups • moderate policies, mass appeal

  8. Nominating Candidates • Historical Methods • Caucus … still used, most notably in Iowa • National Convention • Direct Primary System • Determine votes of Convention Delegates • Closed vs. Open Primary • Caucuses vs. primaries • Criticisms: • Front loading; Image over issues

  9. The National Convention • Pre-election meeting of the national party • Bound vs. Unbound delegates • Superdelegates • Determines the party’s ticket & finalizes the platform • Criticism: operates more as a pep rally than serious meeting

  10. Ticket splitting and voting for the opposition

  11. WHY HAS THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM PERSISTED IN THE UNITED STATES? • Plurality System • Voter Opinion • State Laws • Minor Parties • Ideological • One-issue • Economic-protest • Factional

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