Conservative Party Organization in United Kingdom
Conservative Party Organization
The Conservative Party today has three major elements: the National Union, comprising local constituency associations in England and Wales that screen prospective candidates and help get out the vote; the parliamentary party, made up of members of both houses of the British Parliament, including the chief whips; and the party headquarters, comprising a central office, numerous area offices, and a Conservative Research Office. The central office is responsible for maintaining efficiency in the national party organization.
The leader of the party is chosen, through a majority ballot process, by the Conservative members of Parliament (MPs) and bears responsibility for policy and appointments. When the party is in power, the leader serves as prime minister and selects the cabinet ministers. When in opposition, the leader appoints the so-called shadow cabinet to be prepared for a return to power in the event of victory in a general election. With the expansion of suffrage, the party developed components to attract support from women, through the Primrose League; from youth, through the Young Conservatives; and from trade unionists, through the Tory Workingmen’s groups. (1)
In this Section: Conservatism, Conservative Party, Conservative Party Organization and Conservative Party History.
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