Committeemen and Committeewomen
Encyclopedia
Committeemen and Committeewomen are functionaries within the apparatus of political parties
in the United States
.
Committeemen and Committeewomen are typically chosen by voters in a primary election
at the local level, such as a ward
or township
. They serve as members of their party's central committee for a city or county, which then elects members of the state party's committee. The state party members in turn choose the committee members for the national party organizations such as the Democratic National Committee
or the Republican National Committee
.
On a local level, committeemen and committeewomen are generally responsible for helping to identify party supporters within their jurisdicition and get them to vote at election time. In some older American cities, committeemen and women still have significant influence in distributing patronage
jobs to their supporters within city government.
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Committeemen and Committeewomen are typically chosen by voters in a primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
at the local level, such as a ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
or township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
. They serve as members of their party's central committee for a city or county, which then elects members of the state party's committee. The state party members in turn choose the committee members for the national party organizations such as the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
or the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
.
On a local level, committeemen and committeewomen are generally responsible for helping to identify party supporters within their jurisdicition and get them to vote at election time. In some older American cities, committeemen and women still have significant influence in distributing patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
jobs to their supporters within city government.