Government

Organization of American Political Parties

Section 2

Key Terms

• National Committee: Representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party.

• National Party Chairperson: Individual elected by the national committee who manages the daily operations of the national party.

• Caucus: A meeting of political party members to conduct party business.

• Precinct: A geographic area that contains a specific number of voters.

• Ward: Several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit.

• County Chairperson: A person who runs a county committee, often having a great deal of political power in the county.

• Political Machine: A strong party organizations that can control political appointments and deliver votes.

National Party Organization

• Both Major Parties hold national conventions

• Parties are organized at local, state and national levels

• United to help the party win as many offices as possible

National Committee

• Run by the National Chairperson– Manage the office

– Direct committee staff

– Lead fund-raising efforts

National Convention

• Held every four years– Why?

• Delegates nominate candidates for Pres. and V.P.

• Choose delegates through presidential primary elections and caucuses

Delegates

• Each party writes their Platform– May be difficult

• Why?• Party member differences

• Nominate candidate• Speeches and

demonstrations– Support

Senate Campaign Committees

• Both parties have them• Made up of members

of congress• Work to help elect

party members as senators and reps.

State and Local Organization

• Each party have 50 state committees or organizations

• Some weak, some strong

– Money, staff, organization

• Focus on electing party candidates to state offices

– Governor

– Attorney general

– State legislators

• Work to elect party candidate to national offices

Precinct/District

• All cities and counties divided into districts or precincts

• May consist of:– Entire town

– Group of neighborhoods

• Voters in precinct cast vote at same place

Precinct Captain

• Volunteer– Organize party volunteers during campaigns– Encourage people to vote

Ward

• Several adjoining precincts

• Each ward elects a volunteer to represent the ward at the county committee

County Committees

• Largest political unit in the state

• Both parties have them

• County chairperson runs the committee– Person had political power in the county

Local Party People

• Very important• Higher-level party

leaders depend on them– Build party at the

“grassroots”

• Want to know the important issues

Political Machines

• Local party organizations became powerful– Swept elections year after

year

• Give needed people:– Jobs– Food– Fuel– Help with medical care

• Why?– votes