Organisation
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US parties do not have a clear leader
- Multiplicity of leadership
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Reflects separation of powers and political culture
- Even POTUS is not the formal party leader
- Usually have high level of authority within party but lack direct control over the Congressional party
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Both parties have leaders in each chamber
- Senate Majority Leader: John Thune (R-SD)
- Senate Minority Leader: Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
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Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson (R-LA)
- House Majority Leader: Steve Scalise (R-LA)
- House Minority Leader: Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
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Lack of party discipline means presidents can be blocked by congressional opposition from their own party
- Trump tried to get rid of Affordable Care Act but Congress rejected it
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Leadership is informal and based around strong personalities
- Influence over Congress based on personal following
- Threats of being “primaried”: when an incumbent faces a strong challenge from their own party
- e.g. Liz Cheney was R-WO, voted for Trump’s impeachment after Jan 6 and was one of two Republicans on a House committee investigating Jan 6.
- Blamed Trump for inciting the riot, became the target of Trump and co. to ensure her defeat in the primary. Lost 66%-29% in the primary to Harriet Hageman who was backed by Trump
- Fewer bipartisan votes in recent years
State parties + central structures
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DNC and RNC are national party organisations
- Organises national convention
- No power in candidate selection
- Chairs are not widely known, Ken Martin (DNC) and Michael Whatley (RNC)
- There are parties in each state responsible for organising primaries and have their own structures
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Hill Committees:
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
- National Republican Congressional Committee
- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
- National Republican Senatorial Committee
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Coordinate campaigns and donors
- No direct role in choosing candidates but can spend money on campaigns to get incumbents reelected
History
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Federalists and Democratic-Republicans formed during ratification of Constitution in 1787
- Whigs formed later
- Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were Democratic-Republicans
- Early presidents: party reflected the personality
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1828: Democrat party formed, challenged by the Whigs
- Andrew Jackson is the first Democrat (1829), a populist figure
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1833: Whig party formed
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1861: American Civil War
- Democrats and Republicans
- Abraham Lincoln founded the Republican Party
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1861: Two party structure
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Smaller central structure for each party
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More organised factions within each party