2.The Structure and Function of Political Parties

The two major parties are more complex today than they were in the 19th century.Now each party has local，state，and national organizations.The local organizations operate in municipal and county elections（though many cities choose officials，like mayors and members of city councils，through nonpartisan elections，in which candidates effectively run as independents without party affiliation）.In partisan election，the local party organization is involved in identifying candidates，providing professional staff，and taking positions on issues of immediate concern to voters.The party at the local level also serves as a kind of employment agency through their control of patronage.The political bosses and party leaders use their influence over government officials to obtain jobs for their friends and party workers.They defend this practice on the grounds that when a party wins an election，that means the voters have given the party a mandate.In order to carry out the program outlined in the campaign they should be able to put their own supporters into offices.

The party organization at state level prepares for statewide election.Party activists are named as electors in the Electoral College if their party carries the state in a presidential election.Candidates for state office may be chosen through a primary election³，state convention，or caucus⁴ process.At a state caucus，party members select their candidates.In many states，the executive officials，such as governor，lieutenant governor，treasurer，and attorney general，are elected as individuals.Although the party’s candidates for offices are listed on the ballot，voters can vote for any candidate they wish.In such states，it is not unusual for voters to elect a Democratic governor and a Republican lieutenant governor or vice versa.

Each party has its own national committee made up of party leaders，elected officials，and the chairs of the state party organizations.The chair of the national committee is chosen by the party’s candidate for President.The Democratic and Republican National Committees do not run the campaigns of their respective presidential candidates；they play a supporting role to the campaign organizations of the candidates themselves.In both the Senate and the House，each party has its own congressional campaign committee，which raises money for congressional elections.

The national committee loosely runs the party between national conventions.A party’s choices for President and Vice President are nominated at the national convention.The delegates to the convention are already committed to vote for specific candidates based on the result of the state primary or caucus voting.The delegates may be either appointed by the state party organization or elected through the primary process.