Chapter 5
Section 5
Organization of the Two Major
Parties in the United States
I. Organization
A. Highly Decentralized
1. National, State and
local branches of parties
work independently of
one another
2. Very fragmented
because of the federal
system
3. Party in power is much
more organized
II. National Party Organization
A. National Convention
1. Choose a
candidate for
president
2. Adopt parties in
platform
B. National committee
1. Put convention
together (Pick a city)
C. National Chairperson
1. Leader of National
committee
a. Direct
headquarters in DC
b. In charge of
raising money
c. Recruit
volunteers/voters
D. Congressional
Campaign
1. Get new and old
members of party
elected to congress
III. State Party Organization
A. State Central
Committee
1. Led by state
chairperson
2. Work to promote
party’s interest in
state
3. Work
independently for
National Party
4. Goal - elect
Government/state
reps
IV. Local Party Organization
A. Structure
differs from
state to state
1. Warddivides cities
2. Precinctsmallest unit
V. Three Major Elements of Parties
A. Party
Organization
– Workers
B. Part
Electorate –
Voters
C. Party in
Government
– Office
Holders
VI. Future of the Political Parties in the US
A. Major decline in
membership since
1960’s
B. More people are
independent
1. do not like either
party
C. More people vote for
person rather than
party itself