This entity consisting of officials provides organization and continuity for political parties.

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Permanent Party Organization: This entity consisting of officials provides organization andcontinuity for political parties.-The permanent party organization in Texas consists of political officials elected duringthe party primaries and conventions. These officials include precinct chairs, the countyexecutive committee led by county and district chairs, and the state executive committeeled by a chair and vice chair. These party leaders provide continuity to the political partybetween election cycles and encourage participation in the party process.Precinct Conventions: A component of the temporary party organization, these meetings takeplace during the spring of an election year and involve selecting delegates to the countyconvention.-In the spring, usually March, of an election year in Texas, precinct conventions occur inthe more than 6,000 precincts in the state. Even though these meetings are open toanyone who voted in the party primary held earlier on the same day, levels ofattendance at these meetings tend to be extremely low. The purpose of precinctconventions is to elect a precinct chair and to select delegates to the county convention.Republican & Democratic Parties: Electoral rules put in place under the two-party system oftenbenefit these organizations.-Because the two-party system controls the Texas political process, electoral rules andprocedures have been written to benefit the Democratic and Republican Parties, makingit harder for third parties to compete. As an example, the nominees of the Republicanand Democratic Parties automatically earn spots on the general election ballot; anominee from a third party, however, has to spend time, money, and other resourcesgathering enough signatures to earn a spot on the same ballot.Third Parties: Stymied by electoral rules governing the two-party system, these organizationsrarely win elections.-Third parties are often more limited than the two major parties by the rules governing theelectoral process in Texas and elsewhere. This makes it difficult for them to winelections. Also, if an idea or issue position of a third party is gaining traction, it is likely tobe co-opted by one of the major parties, thus making the third party less relevantpolitically.

Reconstruction and the Radical Republicanism practiced by the controversial governor E. J. Davis turned the vast majority of Texans against the Republican Party. In fact, it was almost 100 years later, in 1961, that the first Republican since Reconstruction was elected to the U.S. Senate: John Tower.

In 1978, Texans elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office.

In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

Mainly Democratic before the Civil War, Texas became more so after Reconstruction and the controversial administration of Radical Republican governor E. J. Davis. As a result, the Democratic Party completely dominated Texas politics for almost 100 years. In fact, it was not until 1961 that Democrats lost a race for U.S. Senate in the state of Texas.

In 1978, Democrats in Texas lost the governor's race for the first time since 1869. Voters elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office.

In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

Reconstruction and the Radical Republicanism practiced by the controversial governor E. J. Davis turned the vast majority of Texans against the Republican Party. In fact, it was almost 100 years later, in 1961, that the first Republican since Reconstruction was elected to the U.S. Senate: John Tower.

In 1978, Texans elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office.

In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

Mainly Democratic before the Civil War, Texas became more so after Reconstruction and the controversial administration of Radical Republican governor E. J. Davis. As a result, the Democratic Party completely dominated Texas politics for almost 100 years. In fact, it was not until 1961 that Democrats lost a race for U.S. Senate in the state of Texas.

In 1978, Democrats in Texas lost the governor's race for the first time since 1869. Voters elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office.

In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

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