Party Organizations at the National Level

1
Party Organizations at the National Level

• Session 14

2
National Party Organizations National Committees

• Originally, highly decentralized created in the
  1800s to provide continuity between elections,
  full time organizations by the early 1900s.
  Business was conducted primarily by governors,
  members of Congress and other party leaders
• Since the 1950s, both have professional staffs
• Primary purpose is to conduct presidential
  campaigns
• Traditionally, little control over other party
  organizations and party members little formal
  power

3
National Party Organizations National Committees

• The Republican National Committee (RNC) and
  Democratic National Committee (DNC)
• Membership
• Who
• Size
• Style

• Chairmen
• Party spokesperson
• Organizational leader
• Develops party unity
• In-party, out-party, and the White House
• Activities
• Conducted by professional staff
• Fundraising

4
National Party Organizations National Committees

• Assistance to State and Local Party Organizations
• Professional fundraising
• Grants to hire staff
• Computer technology
• Campaign schools
• Assistance to candidates for state legislature
• Assistance with redistricting
• Campaign Activities
• Communications

• Conventions
• Research
• Revitalization and Party Centralization
• 1960s they were creatures of the state
  organizations
• M-F C and delegate selection
• RNC and financial resources
• Party Integration in Federal Election Campaigns
• Channeling money

5
National Party Organizations Hill Committees

• The Congressional Committees
• (The National Republican Congressional Committee,
  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,
  The National Republican Senatorial Committee, The
  Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee)
• Campaign Finance
• Contributions
• Coordinated Expenditures
• Senate committees compared to House committees
• Direct party connected contributions
• Train candidates to raise money