party machinery
Organization's operational system
Party machinery is the organizational apparatus of a political party—its committees, officials, rules, and procedures that keep the party functioning.
The term often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting bureaucratic mechanisms that operate behind the scenes: The candidate had the support of the party machinery.
Someone who controls party machinery wields considerable political power even without holding elected office.
- smoke-filled roomSecret political negotiation venue
- membership drivesCampaigns to attract new participants
- executive committeeOrganization's top decision-makers
- campaign managementRunning an electoral effort
- campaign trailRoute of electoral speechmaking
subcommittees · voter registration drives · get out the vote · advisory boards · caucuses · primary election · delegate count · task forces · town hall meetings · voting bloc · national headquarters · campaign advertising · sign · event coordination · button · badge · poster · sticker
party machinerycandidates
Those seeking selection
political leaders · elected officials · party nominee · officeholders
party machinerygrassroots movement
Citizen-led collective action campaign
grassroots organizing · mass movement · direct democracy · mass protest
party, machinery, parties, partied, partying, partisan, partisanship, machine, machines