Democracy in Action P2000 -- Political Parties: Framing the
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Political parties frame the debate, recruit candidates and raise money (2000 activities).  The Democratic and Republican parties dominate American politics and are organized at the national, state, and local level level.  Other parties (third or minor parties) are struggling to gain a foothold. Note: The table below shows party leadership through the 2000 campaign.  Following the campaign, Bush nominated Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore to lead the RNC; members of the RNC approved the choice of Gilmore at the party's winter meeting in Jan. 2001.  Democrats selected Terry McAuliffe as DNC chair at their winter meeting in early February.
National Committees .
Republican National Committee
Chairman Jim Nicholson (CO) 
Co-chair Patricia Harrison (NY) 
.................................................................finances
Democratic National Committee
Nat'l Chair Joe Andrew (IN) 
General Chair Ed Rendell (PA) 
................................................................finances
Republican Governors Association
Chairman Ed Schafer (ND)
Democratic Governors Association
Chairman Paul Patton (KY)
Vice Chairman Gray Davis (CA)
National Republican Congressional Committee
...........................................................contribs | expends
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
................................................................finances
National Republican Senatorial Committee
................................................................finances
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
................................................................finances
State Parties .
Links to Republican State Parties Link to Democratic State Parties
Official Party Auxiliaries .
National Federation of Republican Women College Democrats of America
Young Republican National Federation Young Democrats of America
College Republican National Committee Democrats Abroad
Nat'l Fed. of the Grand Order of Pachyderm Clubs, Inc.
Partisan Groups  .
Republican Liberty Caucus
represents the G.O.P's libertarian tradition
Democratic Leadership Council
New Democrats
Ripon Society
to promote moderate Republican principles 
(also see: The Moderate Republican)
New Democrat Network
the political action arm of the New Democrat movement 
Log Cabin Republicans
gay and lesbian Republican organization
Americans for Democratic Action
independent liberal political organization
Republican Jewish Coalition
voice of Jewish Republicans
Democrats 2000
recruiting and electing progressive candidates
Republican National Coalition for Life
works to ensure adoption of the pro-life plank in the Republican platform 
National Committee for an Effective Congress
supports progressive candidates
Republicans for Choice (2)
seeks to remove the anti-choice plank in the Republican platform
National Jewish Democratic Council
promoting Jewish values in the Democratic Party
Republican Pro-Choice Coalition
seeks to get abortion out of politics
EMILY's List
electing pro-choice Democratic women candidates
GOPAC
Republican training and education 

Republican Leadership Council
emphasizes economic issues and inclusiveness over a narrow moral agenda
Italian American Democratic Leadership Council

Irish American Democrats

National Federation of Republican Assemblies
conservative Republican group

Republicans for Environmental Protection
environmental conscience of the GOP

House .
Speaker -  Denny Hastert (IL) Minority Leader - Richard A. Gephardt (MO)
Majority Leader - Richard A. Armey (TX) Minority Whip - David E. Bonior (MI)
Majority Whip - Tom DeLay (TX) Democratic Caucus Chairman - Martin Frost (TX)
Republican Conference Chair - J.C. Watts (OK) Democratic Caucus Vice Chair - Robert Menendez (NJ)
Chair, Nat'l Rep. Cong. Comm. - Tom Davis III (VA) Chair, Dem. Congr. Campaign Comm. - Patrick J. Kennedy (RI)
Republican Conference Secretary - Deborah Pryce (OH)
Republican Policy Comm. Chair - Chris Cox (CA)


Senate .
Majority Leader - Trent Lott (MS) Minority Leader - Tom Daschle (SD)
Asst. Majority Ldr/Majority Whip - Don Nickles (OK) Minority Whip - Harry Reid (NV)
Chair, Senate Rep. Conference - Connie Mack (FL) Secretary of the Conference - Barbara Mikulski (MD)
Sec., Senate Rep. Conference - Paul Coverdell (GA) 
died July 19, 2000
Chair, Dem. Sen. Campaign Comm. - Robert Torricelli (NJ)
Chair, Nat'l Rep. Policy Comm. - Larry Craig (ID)
Chair, Nat'l Rep. Sen. Comm. - Mitch McConnell (KY)
Sen. President Pro Tem - Strom Thurmond (SC)
. .

RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson

DNC National Chairman Joe Andrew
Financial Summary 1999-2000 (Source: FEC)
Republicans
Total Receipts: $715.7 million
Federal ("hard dollars"): $465.8 million
Non-Federal ("soft money"): $249.9 million 
Democrats
Total Receipts: $520.4 million
Federal ("hard dollars"): $275.2 million
Non-Federal ("soft money"): $245.2 million 



2000 Activities
Conventions
Issue Ads
Partisan Barbs


More Parties
In a political landscape dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties, third or minor parties have had trouble getting rooted.  (See Ballot Access News).  Currently, five third parties are working to build a national presence and are running candidates in various states: Greens, Libertarian Party, Natural Law Party, Reform Party, and Constitution Party (formerly U.S. Taxpayers Party). 
Greens-ASGP | Greens/Green Party USA
Libertarian Party
Natural Law Party
Reform Party  | Reform Leadership Council  | American Reform Party
Constitution Party (formerly U.S. Taxpayers Party)
 

Yet More Parties
In addition, there are a number of other small national parties operating at the fringes:
Communist Party U.S.A.
Labor Party
New Party
Socialist Party USA
Workers World Party
 
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Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.