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THE POWER OF PARTY PRECINCT COMMITTEEMAN CAN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED

ST. LOUIS - "The Most Powerful Office In The World Is NOT The President of the United States," says a popular pamphlet some say was penned by conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly as far back as the late 80s.

While her nationwide Eagle Forum activist group still sells the brochure online, Mrs. Schlafly's name isn't listed as the author.

The mystery of the pamphlet's origination continues - as does the power of the information inside. It succinctly encourages everyday Americans to get involved with the local organization of the political party of their choice to  make a difference in local, state and national politics.

The "Most Powerful Office" brochure says while the President of the United States is the most powerful man (or woman) in the world, being a precinct committeeman can make huge differences in the way things are. And it is one that isn't so difficult to win.

"[The office of precinct committeeman] is more powerful because it chooses whose names will appear on the ballot for elective office and what will be the policies of the political parties that provide the major support for those candidates," the pamphlet says.

To understand why being a precinct committeeman is so powerful, one must understand the Seven Steps of government. 

1. To change things, you have to change the law. Our Constitution gives us a way to remedy laws, policies, and taxes — members of the House of Representatives in Congress and the lower house of each State Legislature must run for office every two years. 
2. To change the laws, you have to change the people who make them. If you want to change the laws or taxes, you must elect representatives you can reliably count on to vote conservative and pro-family all the time. 
3. To be elected, your candidate must be on the ballot.  
4. To get on the ballot in a general election, you have to be nominated for an office in a Party Primary Election or Convention. The winners in the Party Primary or Convention will be the candidates who appear on the ballot in November. Except in very rare cases, all candidates must first win a Party Primary or Convention. Write-in and third party candidates rarely succeed.
5. Candidates endorsed by the Party usually win the Primary Election. Only a small minority of Americans vote in Primary elections. Persons nominated to be the "Republican candidates" on the ballot in the general election are chosen by those who are willing to declare themselves "Republican" in the Primary or Convention that selects the nominees. 
6. Primary endorsements are often made by the Party's "County Committee" (or Township Committee, etc.), which is elected by the Precinct Committeemen of the Party. The county chairman and the county central committee (or executive committee) are elected every two years (usually) by the Precinct Committeemen (sometimes called Precinct Chairmen) who, in turn, are elected in their individual precincts.  
7. It's easy to be elected a Precinct Committeeman. In a typical state, you can call your county clerk and get the necessary forms, get ten of your friends to sign a Petition requesting that you be on the ballot in the Primary as a candidate for Precinct Committeeman, and file the Petition by the required date. Then you walk around your precinct, knock on one door after another, and say, "I would appreciate it if you would vote for me for Precinct Committeeman. You will find me on the Republican ballot in the Primary election on Tuesday, _______________."To change things, we must change the laws. 

So, the Eagle Forum pamphlet says, "The Precinct Committeeman is the most powerful office in the world because Precinct Committeemen determine who gets the chance to be elected to office at every level of government. Remember, if your candidate is not on the ballot, he will not be elected."

What does a precinct committeeman do? 

The Precinct Committeeman is the person who is legally charged with getting out the vote on election day. If he does his job well, he will ring the doorbell of every household in the precinct and ask polite questions to find out the Party and other political views of every voter. (That's called canvassing.) Then, before each election, the Precinct Committeeman will personally deliver campaign literature (such as a marked sample ballot) to every voter who is expected to vote for your Party or candidate. Then the Precinct Committeeman makes sure that all his voters get to the polls on election day. This is the way elections are won.

What powers does a precinct committeeman have?

1. Friendly access to neighbors. When one introduces him or herself as the "Republican Precinct Committeeman," neighbors assume he have something to say. You can provide them with information on candidates and issues.
2. Respect from elected officials. Since a Precinct Committeeman represents, on average, 500 voters, and has the power to vote for other Party officials and to make endorsements of candidates, any call or letter from a Precinct Committeeman gets the attention of elected officials.
3. Launching pad for other offices.  
4. Direct influence over Party Platform, policies, and selection of candidates. He can have a tremendous influence on the adoption of the Party Platform and policies, support of or opposition to issues, and selection of candidates.

In Illinois, there are some quirks about attaining the precinct committeeman office.

The office is elected outside of Cook County. Within Cook County, township committeemen - which are elected - appoint precinct captains. And within Chicago, ward committeemen - which are elected - appoint precinct captains.

In Illinois, Jim Edwards is leading the "Illinois Leadership Project," encouraging the revamping of the Illinois Republican Party from the roots up.  

More on that project soon to come on Illinois Review.

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