Political Parties III

Lecture 7-3

Traditional Party Structure

• Pyramid.

• Local Party apparatus followed by less broad levels of city, county, district, and state committees

• Under traditional system focus was at the lowest levels

Traditional Party Structure

• With the increasing “disconnect” between voters and parties, the focus of party activity occurs at the state and national levels

• Parties now assist candidates in their campaigns instead of directing the elections. The parties offer expertise and the ability to raise large amounts of money.

State Central Committees

• Apex of the state party organization

• Organizing State convention/caucuses

• Allocating campaign funds

• Selecting national convention delegates

Party Changes in the Last 50 Years

• Generally, state organizations have moved from a concern with election-time mobilization of voter to providing technical assistance to candidates

• National party organization better staffed and funded than in the past

National Parties

• “Ultimate” power lies with a party’s national convention but not “Real power”

• National Committee (DRN/RNC) – “Real Power, but little Real Power”

• The national committee is the permanent body of each major party that oversees the party’s affairs on an ongoing basis.

• Other Committees

• Recruitment and development of candidates

• Continuous support for party activities

Informal Groupings

• Party in Government – GOVERNMENT Officials

• (Formal) Party Organization – People who hold PARTY office

• Party in the electorate

Parties in resurgence

• Erosion of party support has ceased for the most part

• Stronger congressional campaign committees have helped.

Parties in resurgence

• Erosion of party support has ceased for the most part

• Stronger congressional campaign committees have helped.

Response for resurgence

• Parties have adjusted to changed circumstances

• Parties now make use of new resources such as direct mail

• Consequences of party resurgence mean that parties will continue to play a part in American politics

Prospects for realignment

• Clearly some realignment has occurred

• Many wonder about the persistence of the strength of the Republican party at the presidential level

• Realignment is inherently a retrospective concept

The future of resurgence

• What happens depends upon what is made of the recent changes that have occurred in the parties

• Stronger central control by the two major parties will probably persist