A political party is not a church or a club where everyone agrees and tries to force their will on the other guy, although our current party leaders, politicians and media would have us believe this is true. So, then what is a political party and how do we make the best use of these organizations?
If you’re now ready to get involved, visit the GOTV page to contact your local party and volunteer! First, make sure you are a registered voter. Click here for form that you must mail in. There are many ways, both big and small where even those with very limited time can contribute. Your local party members will help you find the activity which fits your commitment level. Go the bottom of this page for more helpful links, or visit the Precincts and Beyond page to look at the party structure.
Why is local Party Participation Important?
The greatest power you have in the political system is at the Precinct level, where you elect delegates to represent you within the party and choose those candidates that you feel best represent your political principles. The Republican Party has become increasingly ideological over time, meaning that it has turned toward representing values instead of principles. While we may disagree on value sets, it is a belief in common political principles – see the High Five for Freedom – which has traditionally brought Republicans together and given them strength. There are many folks who are disillusioned with the GOP, feeling that both candidates and leadership have strayed from the ideals we trust them to represent. If this is true, it is because of a lack of participation at the local, grassroots level in those party elections which determine the character of the party.
A political party is a TOOL that anyone can use. The Republican Party is one of the two most powerful tools available for forwarding an agenda in government. When those who are truly dedicated to the purported principles of the party – limited government, etc. – are not actively using it, it becomes available to those who may not represent those ideals and simply seek political power to further their own ends. Those who have run off with the tool will continue to espouse the ideals of the party in order to maintain members’ support both financially and at the polls, but their votes in office will tell the truth.
How many of us are unaware of what candidates may have done while in office, yet check the “R” box at the polls, trusting that the Republican name means something? This tendency is the power of a political party and it is this tendency that those who have run off with the party tool seek to take advantage of.
The fastest growing political affiliations in America are Unaffiliated and Constitution Party membership. While the media implies that Independents are mostly liberals, we have found that this is not true – many independents are former Republicans who have left the party, feeling that it no longer represents conservative government. The task now before the Republican Party is to face what has driven these former Republicans out of the party and do everything we can to win them back. The means to this end are INTEGRITY and PARTICIPATION.
In fact, the best tool that members have to preserve the integrity of the party and ensure candidates represent our principles while in office is PARTICIPATION. By attending your caucus gatherings and voting directly for those that will represent you within the party, you have the greatest amount of control over what the party looks like. By participating in caucus, you forward delegates and candidates that will truly represent you. In many cases, caucuses are so poorly attended that simply showing up can get you elected to any office – this situation is ripe for those who would use the tool for very un-Republican ends, but it also means that your own power is multiplied. We can take advantage of this situation to elect truly limited government candidates, delegates and officers… or we can leave it for others to use on our behalf. The choice is ours.
“Many of the internal party leadership positions at the State Central Committee meetings, such as district chairmanships, are filled by acclimation simply because no one attends. This is a great situation for anyone who doesn’t like how the party is performing and wants to take part in reshaping it.” -House 13 Republican candidate Robert Houdeshell
To get involved, use the Contact Us page to send your information and how you’d like to participate, or visit the GOTV page to help spread the message and get Republicans to the polls. (GOTV efforts are very important and can make the difference in winning or losing any election – help get your local Republicans to the polls!)
For more information on the levels and structure of the Republican Party, see the Precincts and Beyond page.
For more information on the history of political parties, check out this page. (This link has a decidedly liberal bias, but is still a good overview/outline to start from. Another good resource with a handy timeline format is found at EdGate.)
Other Links:
Republican Liberty Caucus (Often called the “Conscience of the Republican Party,” this caucus is most concerned with promoting truly limited government candidates within the party.)
