- Why do the major parties have a decentralized structure?
• How does the national party machinery and the State and local party machinery operates?
• What are the three components of the parties?
• What are the future possibilities for the major parties?
The Decentralized Nature Of the Parties
Both of the major parties are
Highly decentralized
And fragmented.
• The party out of power lacks a strong leader.
• The federal system distributes powers widely, in turn causing the
parties to be decentralized.
• The nominating process pits party members against one another
because only one person can chosen to be the party’s
presidential candidate.
All five elements of both major parties work together loosely to achieve the party’s goals.
•The National Convention: meet to pick presidential and VP nominee
•The National Committee: found in each state/territory
•The National Chairperson: leader of national committee who have 4-yr term and picked by presidential candidate
•Two Congressional Campaign Committees: in each house of Congress to help reelect incumbents and serve 2 years