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Political parties are a vital part of American ward. These…
Tags: campaign number, chairperson, county candidates, county committee, democrats and republicans, district committee members, election code, election committee, mail solicitation, next level, party committees, party organization, party platforms, pennsylvania law, personal contact, political parties, raising money, receptions, registration act, united states committee,Pages: 2
Language: english
Created: Mon Feb 5 11:15:05 2007
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Political parties are a vital part of American ward. These committee members elect a ward Finance
democracy. They nominate candidates for chairperson. If there is no ward, the next level
public office and work to get citizens to of party organization above the district Fund-raising is a major function of party
register and vote. Party platforms focus committee is the city, township, or borough committees at all levels. Party committees
attention on the issues in an election. committee. All district committee members and committees organized to work only for
are part of one of these committees. They are particular candidates are faced with the
In Pennsylvania the Election Code and the also members of the county committee. constant need to raise funds to conduct
Permanent Registration Act are the laws under campaigns. Methods of raising money include
which political parties operate. The The County Committee is composed of all mail solicitation, personal contact, bake sales,
Democrats and Republicans are the major the district committee members in the county. and receptions and dinners for which tickets
parties in the state, as they are throughout the Except in Philadelphia where it is called a city are sold.
United States. committee, every county has a county Under Pennsylvania law, which applies to
committee for each major party. The county candidates running for local and statewide
Any organization not receiving the required chairperson is usually elected by the office, there are no limits on either campaign
number of votes in each general election is committee members at a formal meeting. In expenditures or contributions. Candidates or
known as a political body and its candidates some counties the chairperson is elected political committees receiving more than $200
run only in the fall elections after filing directly by the voters at the primary election. in contributions must file financial reports
nomination papers. The county chairperson's influence is strong listing the name, address and occupation of
when decisions are made about nominees, each contributor. A report of all receipts and
Major Party Organization endorsements, appointments, election issues, expenditures must be filed with the state
and campaign strategies. Bureau of Elections prior to the election and a
You may vote for candidates in the primary final report must be filed after the election.
only if you listed a party affiliation when you The State Committee is elected according to Candidates for local officers who do not
registered to vote. the rules of each party. Most of the members intend to receive or spend more than $200
are directly elected by the voters at the may simply sign an affidavit to that effect.
The District Committee of each party is primary. The rest are elected by the county Campaign expense reporting forms are
composed of two people from each precinct committees. The state committee supervises available from either the county board of
(the election district or precinct is the and directs the party throughout the state and elections or the Bureau of Elections.
geographical area in which all voters use the is responsible for running state wide
same polling place). Committee members campaigns. The chairperson is elected by the Corporations, associations and unions are
serve for two years and are elected at primary state committee but the choice is strongly prohibited from making political
elections in even-numbered years. These two influenced by the governor or by the candidate contributions; however, these groups may
committee members are responsible for for governor who has won the primary. form political action committees (PAC's)
keeping in touch with party members in their through which they may contribute. Political
precinct, for registering new residents in their The National Committee is the highest level action committees operate under the same
party, and for getting their party members out of party organization and conducts national reporting rules as other political committees.
to vote. In some areas of the state several conventions and campaigns. Its members are Candidates in Pennsylvania who are running
election district combine to make up a ward. nominated by state committees and are elected for national officer must conform to federal
The ward committee for each party is made up by the delegates at the national convention. laws that limit the amount of money that may
of all the district committee members in that be received from an individual.
Running for Office the primary. Candidates who file nomination
papers run only in the November election.
Nomination petitions and candidate The mechanics for obtaining the forms are the Who's Who In The
qualification materials are available from the
Secretary of the Commonwealth for state wide
same. The deadlines differ considerably from
those for petitions and vary from year to year.
Party
and district offices and from the county board
of elections for county and local offices. An Cross-filing is the term used for filing
election calendar, giving dates for circulating nomination petitions in more than one party's
petitions, filing dates, and other deadline primary. Cross-filing is permitted in
information are available from the Secretary Pennsylvania only for the offices of judge,
of the Commonwealth. district justice and school board director. By
www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel or call 717-787-5280 filing petitions in more than one party a
candidate may then be the nominee of one or
Major Party Candidates more parties on the fall ballot.
Nominating candidates and working to get
Government Study Commission candidates
them elected is the chief responsibility of the
are not designated by party on the ballot, but
parties. Candidates may be placed on the
must file nomination papers as independent
ballot for the fall election by winning their
candidates. All voters, regardless of how they
party's primary. Candidates for political
are registered, may vote for these candidates
bodies and independent candidates must file
in either the spring or fall election.
nomination papers.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Retention election candidates are judges who OF PENNSYLVANIA
To run in a primary a candidate must meet the
are seeking a second or subsequent term. 226 Forster Street
eligibility requirements for the office. To get
They appear on the ballot unopposed with no Harrisburg, PA 17102-3220
a name on the ballot a candidate must file a
party label for a "yes" or "no" vote. 1-800-692-7281 ext. 10
petition for a specific office. Party backing is Email: info@palwv.org
not necessary in order to run. If a party http://www.palwv.org
endorses none of its candidates, it indicates a
For more information contact:
willingness to endorse the winner of the
party's primary. Even when a party has The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan
endorsed a candidate who loses in the primary, · a member of your party's district,
county, or state committee. political organization, encourages informed and
it may support the winner with money and active participation in government, works to
expertise in the November election. · the county board of elections
increase understanding of major public policy
· Department of State, Bureau of issues, and influences public policy through
Elections, 717-787-5280 education and advocacy.
Other Candidates
To file nomination papers as a member of a
political body or as an independent candidate © 2007 League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
requires many more signatures than the
nomination petitions for party candidates in