2. Party Structure
Political Parties – a combination of people and interests
whose primary purpose is to gain control of government by
winning elections
Organization
The major two parties are organized at the: national, state,
county, and precinct levels
Each majority party is loosely organized
Gives the states and local party organizations opportunity to decide
their positions on party issues
The Texas Election Code mandates that the two major parties are
similar in structure
4. Party Structure
Temporary Party Organization
Conventions and primaries conducted by the parties
Precinct Conventions – open to members of the party who have
voted earlier in the day at the first primary or in early voting
Occur every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday in March
Usually are held 30 minutes to 2 hours after the polls close that evening
Delegates and alternates are selected to attend the next higher party
convention with resolutions to consider for the party platform
7. Party Structure
Temporary Party Organization
County and District Conventions
Delegates and alternates selected at the precinct level meet at the
county or district convention
(If there is more than one senatorial district in the county, there will be a
separate convention for each district)
Counties such as Harris, Dallas, and Bexar are good examples
State law requires that both conventions occur the 3rd Saturday after
the precinct conventions
Typically, 11 days after the primary election
At this convention, delegates and alternates are selected to attend the
state convention, taking the approved resolutions with them
10. Party Structure
Temporary Party Organization
State Conventions
In June of even-numbered years, each Texas political party must hold a
biennial state convention
At the convention, delegates: select the state party chair, vice chair, and
members of the state executive committee
They also draft a party platform and recognize nominees selected in the primary
elections
If it is a presidential year, state convention delegates also select delegates
and alternates to attend the national convention and potential members of
the Electoral College
In the 2008 election, Texas was allowed 34 electoral votes (equal to the number of
members in U.S. Congress – 2 Senators and 32 Reps.)
12. Party Structure
Temporary Party Organization
Selection of National Convention Delegates
Selection depends on their support for particular candidates for the
party’s presidential nomination
Candidate selection is done either by primary or caucus
In a primary, rank-and-file party members can vote directly for the presidential
candidates of their choice
Primary voting is done at the precinct level
In a caucus, party members choose national convention delegates who either
pledge to support a particular presidential candidate or remain uncommitted
Caucus – selection of candidates by an informal committee of party leaders
13. Party Structure
Temporary Party Organization
Democratic Selection
Texas Democrats combine the two delegate-selection plans in
a primary-caucus in a process known as the “Texas Two-Step”
Presidential candidates are awarded delegates to local and state
conventions in proportion to the number of their supporters in
attendance
National delegates include those selected by state senatorial district,
those selected on an at-large basis, and superdelegates
Superdelegate - Unpledged party official or elected official who
serves as a delegate to a party’s national convention
14. Party Structure
Temporary Party Organization
Democratic Selection
In 2008, Texas sent 192 pledged delegates and 34 unpledged
“superdelegates”
98 for Obama, 94 for Clinton
The “Texas Two-Step” has become rather controversial in recent years
Essentially, Democrats have to “vote twice” for their candidates
Once at the primary and once again at the caucus
2008 - Roughly 2.9 million voted at the primary level; less than 1/3 (roughly
1 million) voted at the caucus
15. Check my SlideShare page
(rfair07) for more lectures
Lectures posted for:
United States History before 1877 / after 1877
Texas History
United States (Federal) Government / Texas Government
Slide 14 of 32
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