ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with perceptions of the role of local party committees in the twenty-first century. It discusses that American democracy functions best when parties fulfill the normative functions identified in the responsible party model. The chapter focuses on the changing circumstances and behavior of local party organizations. Across the board, local party organizations have not only maintained the institutional resources they fought to establish three decades ago but have kept abreast of new communication technology and fund-raising strategies—further cementing the role of resource provider in a candidate-centered political process. A close reading of American history suggests that local party goals and activities change based on a host of contextual factors. Numerous instruments of communication aid local party committees' efforts to mobilize local voters or build party attachments. Even a cursory review of party history in the United States reveals that rationality can reinforce responsibility, albeit in unanticipated ways.
