- This article or section should be merged with Politics of the United States#Organization of American Political Parties
Political parties in the United States are formally structured on a geographical basis. Each precinct generally elects two people (the exact number is determined by locally varying party rules),and these committeepersons elect county officers and/or ward, city, township, borough, or legislative district officers.
Members of state committees may be directly by the voters or by local committeepersons, according to various state and local rules. Members of state committees then elect the officers of state parties and members of the national committee. Members of the national committee then elect the officers of the national party.
Presidential nominees are chosen by delegates to the National Convention. In the Democratic Party, directly elected delegates must be pledged to a particular candidate, while in the Republican Party the delegates are officially unpledged. Delegates, according to varying state rules, are elected directly by the voters, by members of state committees, or by delegates elected from local party caucuses.
Although the formal political structure is very heavily based on geography, influence is not. Generally speaking, the chief executive officer of the country, state or locality has either substantial influence or absolute control, of the party organization he or she is affiliated with in his or her jurisdiction. Business and labor interests, and wealthy individuals, who make or raise significant campaign contributions also often have great degrees of influence. The influence of other elected officials is usually dependent upon abilities to raise money, rally the public, recruit candidates, or mobilize their fellow elected officials.
In recent years, there has been an ever-increasing trend to form new party organizations to serve particular purposes. To raise money and plot campaign strategy, party organizations have been formed to elect more state legislators, members of Congress and the U.S. Senate, governors, and attorney generals. Party organizations are also formed to influence the ideological direction of the party. Goegraphically based party organizations are often somewhat torn between welcoming this additional help and fearing it as a threat to their political power.
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