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Republicans Democrats Bureaucratic Well-financed Focus on congressional elections Computerized mailing lists Provide services to candidates National firm of political consultants Factionalized Redistributed power Lost 5 of 6 presidential elections in 1970s, 80s Copied RNC model in the 1990s Send money to state parties to avoid federal spending limits Changes to structure
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WILSON 9B
National Party Structure
Still the Same
National convention has ultimate powerConvention nominates presidential candidateNational committee composed of delegatesManage affairs between conventionsCandidates supported by congressional
committee National chair manages daily workSet agendas for direction of party
Republicans Democrats
Bureaucratic Well-financedFocus on congressional
electionsComputerized mailing
listsProvide services to
candidatesNational firm of political
consultants
Factionalized Redistributed powerLost 5 of 6 presidential
elections in 1970s, 80sCopied RNC model in
the 1990sSend money to state
parties to avoid federal spending limits
Changes to structure
National Conventions
National committee sets time and place “Call” for delegates
Number from each state Rules for selection
DNC – shift N and W = more liberalRewards large states
RNC – shift S and SW = more conservativeRewards loyal states
New DNC Rules
Weaken local party leadersIncrease proportions of women, blacks,
others attending conventionHunt Commission increased influence of
elected officials at conventionSuperdelegates increased weakening
special interest caucusesConventions only ratify choices made in
primaries
Affect on Candidates
Complex formula for apportioning delegatesDNC – proportional representation Longer process Dual caucus count Penalties for states
RNC – winner-take-all Disciplined Loyal
Pressure from states about calendar and rules
State and Local Parties
Distribution of power varies within states Different incentives at work
Central Committee County Committee Local Committees
The Machine Party organization that recruits members with
incentives High degree of leadership control over member activity Build coalitions among members with money
Reforming The MachineTerrible Abuse
Voter fraud, kickbacks, contracts, patronageServices
Welfare, participation, socializing immigrantsChanges
Voter registration Pendleton and Hatch Acts Campaign Finance Education, information, income Federal Welfare
Response to The MachineIdeological Party (Greens, Christian Coalition)
Principle more important than winning Generally focused social movements More factionalized, less leader freedom
Solidary Groups (Rainbow-Push) Motivated by the competition, companionship Flexible, not corrupt, not hard-working, local
Sponsored Parties Created or sustained by another organization Not common in US (UAW, NARAL)
Personal Following Personality, name recognition, money Kennedy, Bush, Clinton, Paul
Free Response Practice
Since the 1960s, the process of selecting presidential candidates has been altered by the changing role of presidential primaries and national party conventions. Discuss FOUR effects that have resulted from this change in the presidential selection process.
What affects can you list regarding the selection of congressional candidates?
