ABSTRACT
The United States is certainly the only large state with a really democratic system of government where political affairs are made even more complicated by its being federally organised. In addition, it is a fact that the political Machine has for years rested in the hands of the old-established parties. The difficulty for a new party is therefore doubled. It has to battle with old parties that are already in control. The special constraints upon the development of an independent, Socialist party organisation that result from these circumstances deserve closer consideration. In each election district nominating meetings are summoned by the party organisers when needed; these meetings are called 'primaries'. Here delegates are chosen – at the command of the party organisers, of course – and these delegates go forward together to conventions where the nominating of the candidates takes place.
