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National Parties

Explore the evolution of the American party system, from traditionally decentralized state parties to the growing influence of national structures. Uncover the roles of national committees, congressional organizations, and the evolving relationship between state and national parties. Delve into the impact of centralization on party functions and the trends shaping modern party dynamics.

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National Parties

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  1. National Parties

  2. A two party system? How about 106!

  3. Traditionally decentralized parties • Most elections state and local • Election laws state laws • Grassroots tradition

  4. Republican Party of San Diego • State party • Board of directors; national committeemen • County level organization • Elected officeholders automatically part of county committee • Other county committee members elected by assembly districts • Local Clubs • Donor clubs with extra access

  5. State/Local Party functions today Service organizations to candidates • Help with fundraising • Providing voter lists, computers, consultants to candidates • Run training seminars • Finance polls • Organize coordinated campaigns

  6. State/Local Party functions today • Service organizations to candidates • Recruit candidates • Coordinated Campaigning • Register voters • Canvass voters • Turn out voters (GOTV)

  7. State parties’ differences • Different legal environments because of: • Election laws • Primary type • Campaign finance • Redistricting procedures • So: Different organizational strength • Number of volunteers • Money raised • Ability of different partisan actors to select and influence candidates • And so: Different ideology

  8. Three levels of national party organization • National Committee • Democratic National Committee (DNC) • Republican National Committee (RNC) • Senate Campaign Committees • National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) • Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) • House Campaign Committees • National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) • Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC, or D-Triple-C, or D-Trip)

  9. National Committee Organization • Republicans: • 150 members • Man, woman, and state chair from each state • Democrats • Chair and other-sex leader from each state • 200 members allocated to states based on population and Democratic support • Plus Reps from Governor’s association, conference of Democratic mayors, Young Democrats...

  10. National Committee Functions • Call, site, and run the national presidential nominating convention • Run the party’s presidential campaign • Research • Polls • GOTV coordination • Formulate statements of policy • Raise money; pay debts from last campaign

  11. Congressional Committee Organizations • Chair elected by Democratic/Republican caucus of members of the House/Senate

  12. Congressional Committee Functions Help raise money and provide services for: • incumbents’ reelection campaigns • promising potential members • Candidates in competitive districts!

  13. Congressional Committee Functions Types of money and services: • Finding/hiring staff • Finding/hiring consultants • Radio and tv ad production facilities • Research • Polling • Fundraising help; recruiting big names for candidates’ own fundraisers • Some direct contributions • Some independent spending

  14. Other party organizations • College/Youth organizations • Governors’ Associations

  15. The evolving relationship between state and national parties

  16. Historically powerful local/state parties • Parties run campaigns • Parties select candidates • Local party machines • Provide social services (particularly to immigrants) • Dispense patronage • Rig elections • If you want to be governor, who do you go to?

  17. State parties affected by rise of candidate-centered politics • Arose because of: • Civil service reforms • Primary election laws • Professionalization of the Congress • States/federal gov’t provide social services • One man one vote decisions (1964) • Reynolds v. Sims (state leg) • Wesberry v. Sanders (US House) • Television • Weakened local parties (both cause and effect!) • If you want to be governor, who do you go to?

  18. Nationalizing trends • Stronger national government • Congress regulates more of the economy • More national issues • People move around more, carry party labels with them • Changes in campaign technology

  19. Centralization of party power as deliberate strategy • Republicans: • Raise a lot of small contributions through mail • Fund and service state parties • To rebuild after Watergate • Democrats: • Rules changes force state parties to adopt national procedures • To disassociate party from segregationists • Service to candidates comes in the 1980s

  20. Effects of nationalization • A lot of effort in just a few races • More national infrastructure; voter lists, etc. • “Lessened the decentralization of the party organizations”

  21. The 50-state strategy

  22. Where is the power in the party?

  23. What are the merits of very decentralized (state/local) parties? • What are the merits of highly centralized (nationalized) parties? • What do you think of the trends toward nationalization/centralization in both parties?

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