Party Actual government in the States is profoundly affected by the existence of the party system. In most of the States the political party is recognized by law as an in strument of government. In all of them the nomination of candidates for elective office is entirely in their control, and to a considerable extent the nomination of candidates for ap pointive office is practically vested in the leaders of the party organizations. A political party is commonly defined as an association of voters which at the last preceding election polled not less than a certain number of votes, or a certain percentage of the total vote for some representative office. This qualification is usually easy to meet. A political party, when recognized, becomes entitled to the exclusive use of a party name and, in most States where illiterates may vote, also a party emblem, which assists the illiterate in marking his ballot. The number of recognized parties varies, but in most States is at least three and in some as many as six. Only two parties, however, are anywhere of major importance, and in many States one of these is generally much more successful than the other. In most States the major parties are now required to make their nominations at primary elections, which are conducted by public election officers at public expense. In some of these States the voter may attend the official primaries and help nominate the candidates of any party he chooses without divulging his party affilialion. In the greater number of States, however, he must declare his party affiliation before he can participate in the nomination of candidates, the voters' declarations being checked by a system of party enrolment. The organization of the parties also is commonly regulated by law, and the members of the party com mittees, like the candidates for public office, are selected at the primaries. The regulation by law of the methods of nomination has been accomplished for the most part within the last quarter of a century, and the establishment of the direct primary system has been the work of the last 15 years. Taken together with the
introduction of the Australian, or secret offi cial ballot, the legal recognition of parties and the regulation of their proceedings has brought a great improvement in the conduct of elec tions and in the general tone of politics in the States. See APPOINTMENTS, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL; APPORTIONMENT; APPROPRIATIONS, AMERICAN SYSTEM OF; BUDGET; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ; LEGISLATION ; LEGISLATURE.
Bryce, James, 'The Amer ican Commonwealth) (pts. ii, iii, new and rev. ed., New York 1910) ; Beard, C. A., 'American Government and Politics) (pt. iii, new and rev. ed., New York 1914) ; Hart, A. B., 'Actual Government) (pts. rill, 3d ed., New York 1909); Willoughby, W. W., 'The American Constitutional System) (New York 1904); Reinsch, P. S.,