It's not clear. The Democratic Party might be anyone who is a registered Democrat, or perhaps it's everyone who voted for a Democrat, since some states don't have party registration. There are Democrats at every level, from local to Federal, as well as interest groups that traditionally support Democratic political candidates (like labor and women). The Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party addresses this ambiguity through the Democratic National Committee, which is a body that 'governs' the national party. The DNC is selected through a complex process in which state representatives, national representatives, and interest group representatives are picked or appointed based on their constituency group. There are mandated gender balance rules, and ethnic diversity is strongly encouraged in the charter. The DNC elects the Chairman, and the Chairman and the Executive Committee of the DNC run the national party.

The Executive Committee is a committee composed of DNC members chosen based on a semi-elected, semi-appointed process, and is sort of the legislative branch of the DNC. It is mandated to meet at least four times a year, and oversees DNC operational issues.

The Voting Process

On February 12, 2005, the members of the Democratic National Committee will elect a new Chairman by majority vote. If upon the first three ballots, there is no majority, the candidate with the fewest number of votes will be dropped from the ballot, and a new vote held. This will be repeated until there is a majority choice for Chair.

Who are the DNC Members?

There are 441 votes in the Democratic National Committee, split among 446 members. The goal of the membership makeup of the DNC is to have a representative sample of the members of the Democratic Party from the grassroots, local, state, and Federal level, as well as its various constituents such as labor, women, and minority groups. There are 200 state party members elected by state committees, conventions, and straight votes, depending on the state. Every state party chair has a vote, as well as the highest ranking member of the state party who is of the opposite sex as the state party chair. There are also 75 at large members chosen by appointment, as well as reprentatives from party organs like the House and Senate Conferences, Mayors, AGs, etc. According to the Charter, there is mandated gender balance within the Democratic National Committee, and among representatives from states and party organs.

What groups are represented within the Democratic National Committee members?

The members of the DNC break down as follows (number of members from said group are in parentheses):



(100) Every state chair and highest ranking officer of opposite sex in that state party



(200) Delegates allocated based equally on state population and on Democratic vote for President, with weighting for women and minority groups



(75) Additional at-large delegates



(3) The Chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, plus two other Governors selected by the DGA (at least one of whom is the opposite sex of the Chair of the DGA)



(4) The Democratic leader of the House and the Democratic leader of the Senate, and two others selected by the Conference (both of whom need be the opposite sex of the leaders)



(9) Current DNC Office Holders - The Chair, Treasurer, 5 Vice Chairs, National Finance Chair, Secretary



(3) Chair of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors, plus two others as selected by the conference (at least one of whom must be the opposite sex of the Chair)



(3) Young Democrats - The Chair of YDA and two members as selected in their biannual conference (opposite sex requirement for at least of them)



(3) Chair of the Democratic County Officials, plus two members as selected by the organization (opposite sex requirement for at least of them)



(3) Chair of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, plus two members as selected by the organization (opposite sex requirement for at least of them)



(3) Chair of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference, plus two members as selected by the organization (opposite sex requirement for at least of them)



(3) President of the National Federation of Democratic Women, plus two members as selected by the organization



(2) President and Vice President of the College Democrats, who must be of opposite gender



(2) Chair and Vice Chair of the National Association of Democratic State Treasurers



(2) Chair and Vice Chair of the National Association of Democratic Lieutenant Governors



(2) Chair and Vice Chair of Democratic Attorneys General Association plus one member



(2) Chair of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, plus one member



(2) Chair of the National Democratic Seniors Coordinating Council, plus one member



(20) Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, Democrats Abroad, Deputy Chairs



Whoa. That's complicated.

Yes, it is. The race for Chair has only one recent precedent, 1988, because usually the position of DNC Chair is annointed by a Democratic President.