the last word: assignment 3 due tomorrow
DESCRIPTION
Consider : How much control do national parties exert over state and local parties?. The Last Word: Assignment 3 due tomorrow. The Organization of Political Parties . Unit 3: AP Government and Politics . FIGURE 11.3: How are political parties organized?. The National Party. 11.2. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Last Word: Assignment 3 due
tomorrow
Consider: How much control do national parties exert over state and local parties?
The Organization of Political Parties
Unit 3: AP Government and Politics
FIGURE 11.3: How are political partiesorganized?
11.2The National Party The national chairperson
Chief fundraiser and spokesperson Republican National Chairman (2 year term)- Reince Priebus
On January 14, 2011, after seven rounds of voting, Priebus was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee; incumbent chairman Michael Steele had bowed out of the race after trailing in the early rounds of voting.’
**Re-elected in 2013 Democratic Nat’l Chairperson- Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
On April 5, 2011, Vice President Joe Biden announced that Wasserman Schultz was President Barack Obama's choice to succeed Tim Kaine as the 52nd Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Elected by the vote of the DNC members; she “joins President Obama at the helm” of the party
11.2The National Party The national committee
Coordinates national convention and presidential campaign Democratic National Committee (DNC) Republican National Committee (RNC)
http://www.gop.com/
http://www.democrats.org/
The Last Word: Assignment 4 due Tuesday; Hayden Monday
Consider: What do political parties do?
11.2The National Convention Every four years
Present a positive image of the candidate Serve as pep rallies The Message:
Delegates Formerly selected by party leaders, now often elected
in primary elections and caucuses Superdelegates
Who are they? Allow Democratic Party elites some control over which
candidate gets nominated Controversial; are they democratic?
11.2State and Local Parties Roots of the party
Virtually all government regulation of political parties is handled by the states
Vast majority of party leadership positions are held at state and local level.
Precinct Smallest voting unit; fundamental building block of the
party
Levels of party involvement• Party rank-and-file
– People who register and vote for the party regularly
• Party regulars– Work the polls, take non-leadership roles in party, contribute money;
getting candidate elected most important
• Party activists– Deeply concerned about party functions, highly involved in electoral
process; donate funds– Demand a strong voice in local and state party policy
• Party purists– Put ideology ahead of winning elections; will withhold support if they
disagree with candidate
11.2Informal Groups Official and semi-official groups
Affiliations of state and local party women Affiliations with college campus organizations
Supportive interest groups Provide money and labor; labor unions, chambers of
commerce Think tanks
Institutional collections of policy-oriented researchers and academics Heritage Foundation, Council on Foreign Relations
What Political Parties Do
Unit 3: AP Government and Politics
11.3Running Candidates for Office Raising money
Well-developed networks of donors Raise money and disseminate it to candidates
11.3Running Candidates for Office
Mobilizing support and getting out the vote Public opinion polls and tracking surveys Create TV advertisements “Get out the vote” Election Day activities
Formulating and Promoting Policy National Party Platform
Most visible instrument used to formulate, convey, and promote public policy
Each party develops a lengthy platform outlining its positions
Programs of 2/3rds of winning party and ½ of losing party at least partly enacted.
11.3Organizing Government The presidential party
President is informal party leader Parties in the federal courts
Judges are creatures of party, despite the fact that they are not elected
Parties in state government Candidates at state level rely more on party for support Governors much more involved in legislature in many
states Some state judges appointed by nonpartisan
commission (Missouri system), and some are elected (criticized by some)
Party Unity “scores”
Explore Political Parties: Which Party Governs Better?
http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_oconnor_mpslag_12/pex/pex11.html
11.3