Committeemen and Committeewomen (Cook County)
Encyclopedia
Ward Committeemen and Township Committeemen are political party officials who serve many standard committeemen and committeewomen
duties on behalf of their political party
in Cook County, Illinois
.
In Cook County, the city of Chicago
is divided into 50 wards that each have elected committeemen for each party in addition to a single elected alderman. In addition, each of the 30 townships within Cook County has a committeeman for each party. The committeemen are elected during the municipal primary election
s. The positions are unpaid with responsibilities that include voter registration, community forums, election materials, and election operations. In addition, the committeemen are responsible for producing smooth political processes during the elections in their wards, which includes attempting to produce high voter turnout.
Committeemen are voting members in the political organization of their party in the County. This roles gives them authority on behalf of the party to endorse replacements for some vacated political posts such as United States Congressman (vacated United States Senate
posts are appointed by the Illinois Governor and vacated Chicago City Council
posts are appointed by the Chicago Mayor).
Operationally, sometimes the committeeman controls the ward, sometimes the alderman controls the committeeman and sometimes the committeeman and the alderman are one and the same. In many cases the committeeman also has influence over the doling out of jobs, favors, and services around the ward. Sometimes a committeeman accumulates sufficient influence to place his loyalists into political positions outside of the ward.
Committeemen and Committeewomen
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...
duties on behalf of their political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
.
In Cook County, the city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
is divided into 50 wards that each have elected committeemen for each party in addition to a single elected alderman. In addition, each of the 30 townships within Cook County has a committeeman for each party. The committeemen are elected during the municipal 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....
s. The positions are unpaid with responsibilities that include voter registration, community forums, election materials, and election operations. In addition, the committeemen are responsible for producing smooth political processes during the elections in their wards, which includes attempting to produce high voter turnout.
Committeemen are voting members in the political organization of their party in the County. This roles gives them authority on behalf of the party to endorse replacements for some vacated political posts such as United States Congressman (vacated United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
posts are appointed by the Illinois Governor and vacated Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
posts are appointed by the Chicago Mayor).
Operationally, sometimes the committeeman controls the ward, sometimes the alderman controls the committeeman and sometimes the committeeman and the alderman are one and the same. In many cases the committeeman also has influence over the doling out of jobs, favors, and services around the ward. Sometimes a committeeman accumulates sufficient influence to place his loyalists into political positions outside of the ward.