Enlighten me (I'm German) : what's the DNC?

[Dirk39]

and how important is it, who's becoming their chief?

Helpless in Germany,
Dirk

[mattclearing]

1. The Democratic National Committee

They are the major party apparatus/organization for the Democratic Party.

On edit, to answer your second question, the DNC solicits and distributes contributions to elections, campaigns on behalf of Democratic candidates, and plays a major role in electoral and to a lesser extent, policy strategy.

[Dirk39]

6. Does this mean

the chief of the DNC equals somehow the "Generalsekretär" (general secretary) in european parties?

I still don't get it!

Thanx,
Dirk

[mattclearing]

8. If the Generalsekretar coordinates fundraising and strategy, then yeah.n/t

[Dirk39]

11. The "Generalsekretär" in Germany

is about the most important position, while a party is in "opposition". He or she is the most "aggressive" representative of the party and is somehow the one, responsible to offend the opponent and representing the "heart" of the party.
Dirk

[JohnnyCougar]

13. I don't know if it's the same

The DNC chair may or may not be agressive. He is not paid by the government, nor does he hold any governmental power at all. He is selected by the party to coordinate the message and raise money.

Edit: And by the way, you guys make AWESOME cars!

[Old and In the Way]

14. It will be interesting to see how Dean utilizes this position.

In the past, it's been a relatively low profile, work-behind-the-scenes type position. I think Dean can and will reinvent the job and extend the chair's influence in rebuilding the Party. One thing I've admired about Dean is his ability to leverage the internet and build a grassroots organiztion of motivated , energized individuals. I truely hope that he can capitalize on this to wield even better results by controlling the national organization's resources and apparatus. One good thing that Dean posseses is an ego. He will be in charge. He'll be fighting many people who will see their positions in the pecking order threatened.....and I hope they are. I think he'll be spending a lot of time in the next 2 years working with state and local organizations, fundraising and developing Democratic candidates to run in the next mid-term.

I honestly think that this position was made for Dean. For real change to occur, we need to take back Congress and I can think of no better person to be tasked with that goal than Howard Dean....yeeeeeeahhhhh!

[NMDemDist2]

2. DNC-Democratic National Committee n/t

[ultraist]

3. Dean will likey get the Chair position

http://www.democrats.org/
What We Do
History of the Party and Committee
Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party of the United States in 1792 and was elected as the first Democratic President in 1800.

The Democratic National Convention established the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 1848. The DNC is the oldest continuing party committee in the United States and the world.

Function of the Committee
The Democratic National Committee plans the Party's quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation.

Members of the Committee
While anyone who is registered to vote as a Democrat is a member of the Party, there are 440 members of the Democratic National Committee.

The National Committee has 9 elected officers: The Chair, five Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary, and National Finance Chair.

Membership on the National Committee is composed of individuals selected by the Democratic Party organizations in each state (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), the U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands), and Democrats living outside the United States and those Territories listed above (Democrats Abroad).

Each jurisdiction is represented by its Chair and the next highest ranking officer of the opposite sex. An additional 200 votes are distributed to the states and territories based on population, with each receiving a minimum of two additional seats. Each delegation must be equally divided between men and women.

Also seated on the DNC are representatives of various Democratic constituencies and elected officials. These include two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives, two members of the College Democrats, and three representatives each from the Democratic Governors, Mayors, State Legislators, County Officials. Municipal Officials, Young Democrats, and the National Federation of Democratic Women. Fifty members are appointed by the DNC Chairmen, and approved by the DNC, and are considered "Members-at-Large."

Democratic National Headquarters
con't

[Patsy Stone]

4. The Democratic Party

http://www.democrats.org/

Sets the party platform.

[serryjw]

5. Democratic National Committee

The fundraising arm of the party, they decide which candidates get the MONEY!....Hopefully Howard Dean will be the next Chief...We will know next week!

[Dirk39]

7. Sounds good...

but if I get it correctly, it's hard for me to believe that Dean gets one of the most important positions - if it is - within the Democratic Party. Although I wish it would be true...

Dirk

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[John Q. Citizen]

10. The DNC is the national oversite board for the Democratic Party

and The Chair of the DNC helps set political and economic policy for the national Democratic Party. The chair gets credit or blame depending on the party's overall successes in the elections, particularly on federal races.

The struggle is between the long time and more corporate powers candidates against the insurgent populist Dean.

[Dirk39]

12. Thanx a lot for your replies: I love DU n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

15. DNC = Demokratisches Nationales Komitee

They are a party committee, not connected with the government. Whether the party is in power or not, they exist. There is also a Republican National Committee.

The head of the DNC may or may not be a spokesman for the party, as that is not their main role. The "head" of the party, the leader, is often, but not always, the President, if the party is in power The former President or a Presidential candidate would often be the leader if the party is not in power. Right now, for us Democrats, there is no real leader. I could see Bill Clinton (as the former President) or John Kerry (as the former Presidential candidate) being considered the leader. But it is also possible that Harry Reid, the highest elected Democrat right now, might be considered by some to be the leader.

We will have a leader soon, I hope. In the meantime, it could well be Howard Dean if he is elected Chairman of the DNC. That would be a good thing.