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{{Merge from | Hill committee | discuss=Talk:Political party committee#Merger discussion | date=May 2024 }} |
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In the [[United States]], a '''political party committee''' is an organization, officially affiliated with a [[political party]] and registered with the [[Federal Elections Commission]] (FEC), which raises and spends money for [[political campaign]]ing. Political party committees are distinct from [[political action committee]]s, which are formally independent of political parties and subject to different rules. |
In the [[United States]], a '''political party committee''' is an organization, officially affiliated with a [[political party]] and registered with the [[Federal Elections Commission]] (FEC), which raises and spends money for [[political campaign]]ing. Political party committees are distinct from [[political action committee]]s, which are formally independent of political parties and subject to different rules. |
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Though their own internal rules differ, the two major political parties ([[United States Democratic Party|Democrats]] and [[United States Republican Party|Republicans]]) have essentially parallel sets of committees |
Though their own internal rules differ, the two major political parties ([[United States Democratic Party|Democrats]] and [[United States Republican Party|Republicans]]) have essentially parallel sets of committees; third parties have more varied organizational structures. |
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==National committees== |
==National committees== |
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The [[Democratic National Committee]], [[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform Party National Committee]], [[Green National Committee]], [[Libertarian National Committee]], and [[Republican National Committee]] are the official central organizations for their respective parties. They have the greatest role in [[United States presidential election|presidential election]] years when they are responsible for planning the |
The [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), [[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform Party National Committee]], [[Green National Committee]], [[Libertarian National Committee]], and [[Republican National Committee]] (RNC) are the official central organizations for their respective parties. They have the greatest role in [[United States presidential election|presidential election]] years when they are responsible for planning the [[United States presidential nominating convention|nominating convention]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42533 |website=Congressional Research Service}}</ref> |
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The two major parties also have two national [[Hill committee]]s, controlled by their caucus leadership in each house of Congress, which work specifically to elect members of their own party to Congress. |
The two major parties also have two national [[Hill committee]]s, controlled by their caucus leadership in each house of Congress, which work specifically to elect members of their own party to Congress. |
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The DNC and RNC were founded in 1848 and 1854, respectively. For much of their histories, the committees consisted of federated state organizations that came together every four years to organize a convention and support a national ticket, but did very little business outside of presidential years.<ref name=":0" /> The two committees did not have permanent staff or headquarters in Washington, DC until the early 1900s; Republicans opened their first headquarters in 1918, and Democrats followed in 1929.<ref name=":0" /> Beginning in the late 1970s, national party committees, including congressional committees, massively expanded their financial resources, hired larger staffs, and became more active in campaigns.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Reichley |first=A. James |title=The Life of the Parties: A History of American Political Parties |publisher=The Free Press |year=1992 |isbn=0-02-926025-6 |pages=}}</ref> |
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The individual contribution limit to a single national party committee is currently $32,400 per calendar year, but is indexed to inflation. |
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Party committees spend heavily in support of their party's nominees. Spending by national party committees includes contributions directly to candidate campaigns, expenditures coordinated with nominated candidate campaigns, [[independent expenditure]]s, and transfers to state or local party committees. National party expenditures may directly support a federal candidate, but may also fund general party building activities, like a voter registration drive that would help all candidates on a party's ticket in that area.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Herrnson |first=Paul S. |date=October 2009 |title=The Roles of Party Organizations, Party-Connected Committees, and Party Allies in Elections |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1017/S0022381609990065 |journal=The Journal of Politics |language=en |volume=71 |issue=4 |pages=1207–1224 |doi=10.1017/S0022381609990065 |issn=0022-3816 |via=JSTOR}}</ref> |
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The [[Campaign finance in the United States#Federal contribution limits|individual contribution limit]] to a single national party committee is indexed to inflation and increases in odd-numbered years. As of 2023, the individual contribution limit was $41,300 per calendar year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FEC Updates Contribution Limits for 2023-2024 Election Cycle |url=https://www.elias.law/newsroom/client-alerts/fec-updates-contribution-limits-for-2023-2024-election-cycle |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Elias Law Group LLP |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giorno |first=Taylor |date=2023-02-02 |title=Federal Election Commission hikes contribution limits ahead of 2024 election cycle |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/02/federal-election-commission-hikes-fec-contribution-limits-ahead-of-2024-election-cycle/ |website=OpenSecrets}}</ref> |
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==State and local committees== |
==State and local committees== |
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Prior to the 1950s, many state and local party committees were a source of [[Spoils system|patronage jobs]], but civil service reforms led to the decline of those systems. During the 1970s and 1980s, state party committees shifted toward professionalized operations mirroring national party committees, concentrating on fundraising and campaign services.<ref name=":0" /> |
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State party organizations typically have both federal and non-federal accounts, and money can be transferred between the two under certain circumstances. (A third and more complicated category of money, [[Levin funds]], has been created by the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]].) The federal limit for individual contributions to state and local party committees is a combined total of $10,000 per year. |
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State party organizations typically have both federal and non-federal accounts, and money can be transferred between the two under certain circumstances. (A third and more complicated category of money, [[Levin funds]], has been created by the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]].) As of 2023, the federal limit for individual contributions to a state and related local party committees is $10,000 per year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-20 |title=Presidential candidates use joint fundraising committees. So what are they? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/presidential-candidates-use-joint-fundraising-committees-are-rcna80498 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Though the amount an individual can give to both the national and state party organizations are limited, there are no limits to how much state parties can transfer to their partner national parties. Campaign finance watchdogs have criticized transfers between state and national party committees for creating loopholes to avoid contribution limits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newhauser |first=Daniel |date=2020-11-26 |title=How state political parties helped big money pay for this year's elections |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2020/11/26/how-state-political-parties-helped-big-money-pay-for-this-years-elections/ |website=Missouri Independent}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In |
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| ⚫ | In many states, legislative campaign committees or assembly campaign committees are operated by political parties in order to raise funds and campaign for the election of party members to the state legislatures. Similar to federal party committees, these organizations recruit candidates and pool resources, staff, and expertise in order to run more effective campaigns.<ref name=":0" /> These are federated under such national organizations as the [[Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee]] (formed in 1994) and [[Republican State Leadership Committee]] (formed in 2002).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gnoffo |first=Anthony |date=2020-03-11 |title=Democrats boost national fundraising for state legislatures |url=https://rollcall.com/2020/03/11/democrats-boost-national-fundraising-for-state-legislatures/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Politics of the United States]] |
*[[Politics of the United States]] |
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*[[Independent expenditure|Independent expenditure committee]] |
*[[Independent expenditure|Independent expenditure committee]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Political Party Committee}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Political Party Committee}} |
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Latest revision as of 15:09, 14 May 2024
 | It has been suggested that Hill committee be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2024. |
In the United States, a political party committee is an organization, officially affiliated with a political party and registered with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), which raises and spends money for political campaigning. Political party committees are distinct from political action committees, which are formally independent of political parties and subject to different rules.
Though their own internal rules differ, the two major political parties (Democrats and Republicans) have essentially parallel sets of committees; third parties have more varied organizational structures.
National committees
[edit]The Democratic National Committee (DNC), Reform Party National Committee, Green National Committee, Libertarian National Committee, and Republican National Committee (RNC) are the official central organizations for their respective parties. They have the greatest role in presidential election years when they are responsible for planning the nominating convention.[1]
The two major parties also have two national Hill committees, controlled by their caucus leadership in each house of Congress, which work specifically to elect members of their own party to Congress.
The DNC and RNC were founded in 1848 and 1854, respectively. For much of their histories, the committees consisted of federated state organizations that came together every four years to organize a convention and support a national ticket, but did very little business outside of presidential years.[2] The two committees did not have permanent staff or headquarters in Washington, DC until the early 1900s; Republicans opened their first headquarters in 1918, and Democrats followed in 1929.[2] Beginning in the late 1970s, national party committees, including congressional committees, massively expanded their financial resources, hired larger staffs, and became more active in campaigns.[2]
Party committees spend heavily in support of their party's nominees. Spending by national party committees includes contributions directly to candidate campaigns, expenditures coordinated with nominated candidate campaigns, independent expenditures, and transfers to state or local party committees. National party expenditures may directly support a federal candidate, but may also fund general party building activities, like a voter registration drive that would help all candidates on a party's ticket in that area.[3]
The individual contribution limit to a single national party committee is indexed to inflation and increases in odd-numbered years. As of 2023, the individual contribution limit was $41,300 per calendar year.[4][5]
State and local committees
[edit]Prior to the 1950s, many state and local party committees were a source of patronage jobs, but civil service reforms led to the decline of those systems. During the 1970s and 1980s, state party committees shifted toward professionalized operations mirroring national party committees, concentrating on fundraising and campaign services.[2]
State party organizations typically have both federal and non-federal accounts, and money can be transferred between the two under certain circumstances. (A third and more complicated category of money, Levin funds, has been created by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.) As of 2023, the federal limit for individual contributions to a state and related local party committees is $10,000 per year.[6] Though the amount an individual can give to both the national and state party organizations are limited, there are no limits to how much state parties can transfer to their partner national parties. Campaign finance watchdogs have criticized transfers between state and national party committees for creating loopholes to avoid contribution limits.[7]
In many states, legislative campaign committees or assembly campaign committees are operated by political parties in order to raise funds and campaign for the election of party members to the state legislatures. Similar to federal party committees, these organizations recruit candidates and pool resources, staff, and expertise in order to run more effective campaigns.[2] These are federated under such national organizations as the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (formed in 1994) and Republican State Leadership Committee (formed in 2002).[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions". Congressional Research Service.
- ^ a b c d e Reichley, A. James (1992). The Life of the Parties: A History of American Political Parties. The Free Press. ISBN 0-02-926025-6.
- ^ Herrnson, Paul S. (October 2009). "The Roles of Party Organizations, Party-Connected Committees, and Party Allies in Elections". The Journal of Politics. 71 (4): 1207–1224. doi:10.1017/S0022381609990065. ISSN 0022-3816 – via JSTOR.
- ^ "FEC Updates Contribution Limits for 2023-2024 Election Cycle". Elias Law Group LLP. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Giorno, Taylor (2023-02-02). "Federal Election Commission hikes contribution limits ahead of 2024 election cycle". OpenSecrets.
- ^ "Presidential candidates use joint fundraising committees. So what are they?". NBC News. 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Newhauser, Daniel (2020-11-26). "How state political parties helped big money pay for this year's elections". Missouri Independent.
- ^ Gnoffo, Anthony (2020-03-11). "Democrats boost national fundraising for state legislatures". Roll Call. Retrieved 2023-11-28.