DFL Structure from State to Precinct Level
Are you a Democrat interested in taking an active role in party functions, but bewildered by the multi-layered structure of the party organization, the multiple central committees and the various levels of DFL conventions?
Are you wondering how your voice can be heard in the shaping of the party platform and the endorsing of candidates?
Rest assured, you’re not alone. Also, be assured that there is a method to the seeming madness of the somewhat complicated structure.
What’s this party all about?
The primary purpose of the DFL Party is to develop and maintain principles that address the rights and needs of all citizens and to endorse and support candidates who adhere to those principles in elected office.
That sounds simple, but it takes much organization at multiple levels and lots of willing workers to make it happen. We hope this article will provide a clear enough overview of DFL organization to give you the confidence to participate in DFL activities. The more you participate, the more you will learn about the process.
Let’s get started. The first thing you need to know about DFL organization is that there are four main levels of leadership and participation: Precinct, County Unit/Senate District, Congressional District, and State DFL Party. (Puzzled by the county unit/senate district designation? Be patient; we’ll explain it shortly.) Since most DFLers think of the DFL Party as a whole rather than its parts, we will start at the top.
State DFL Party
First, in case you’re wondering why the Minnesota Democratic Party is called the DFL Party: the DFL Party came into being in 1944 when the Minnesota Democratic Party merged with the third-party protest Farmer-Labor Party.
The State DFL Party is the top level of DFL party organization and has representation on the Democratic National Committee, the governing body of the National Democratic Party.
The state DFL headquarters has a full-time office staffed by professionals who assist DFL officers at all levels.
In even-numbered years (election years) delegates from around the state, 1200 elected at county unit/senate district conventions and 63 elected by other bodies, convene to conduct the following business:
- elect 12 at-large party directors
- discuss and adopt a state party platform
- endorse candidates for statewide public office
- vote on party constitution and bylaws
- in presidential election years, elect delegates to the Democratic National Convention
In odd-numbered years, the DFL governing bodies are the state central and executive committees. The Central Committee is made up of the chairs and associate chairs of county units/senate districts, delegates from DFL elected officials, former State DFL Party chairs and associate chairs, and the State DFL Party officers. The Executive Committee consists of the State DFL Party officers, three delegates from each congressional district, the Minnesota Young DFL chair, and the co-chairs of the State DFL Party commissions.
State DFL officers and staff members keep Democrats around the state informed on issues and activities on an on-going basis through mailings and website articles.
Congressional District
Minnesota has eight congressional districts, often referred to as CD 1, CD 2, etc. Our congressional district is CD 3. Each congressional district is represented in Washington, DC, by one elected member to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The primary function of DFL Party congressional district units is to coordinate county units/senate districts within congressional districts to assist DFL Party-endorsed candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives with their campaigns.
Congressional districts hold conventions in even-numbered years. Delegates are elected at county-unit/senate district conventions. Convention business includes:
- endorsing a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives
- electing congressional unit party officers
- discussing and adopting resolutions
- in presidential election years, electing delegates to the Democratic National Convention
Between conventions, the congressional district governing bodies are the congressional district central and executive committees.
Each congressional district has two members on the DFL Party Executive Committee, usually the chair and associate chair.
County Unit/Senate District
The structural backbone of the DFL Party is the county unit/senate district level of organization. That is where most delegates to State DFL and congressional district conventions are elected, where most members of the State DFL Central Committee and congressional district central committees are selected, and where the nuts and bolts of candidate support and get-out-the-vote action takes place.
First, an explanation of the “county unit/senate district” designation for this level of party organization. It seems confusing, especially for those who move into a senate district unit. All but nine of the 87 counties in Minnesota comprise one county unit in their entirety. In those nine large counties, county units are to be considered any state senate district contained within one or more of those counties. That means our county unit is Senate District 42, abbreviated as SD 42.
County unit/SD conventions, with delegates elected at precinct caucuses, are held in even-numbered years to:
- elect county unit/SD officers
- discuss and adopt resolutions
- elect delegates who will represent the county unit/SD at both the congressional district and DFL Party conventions
- endorse candidates for the state legislature if the county unit is a completely contained senate district, e.g., SD 42
Between conventions, the governing bodies of the county unit/SD are the county unit/SD central and executive committees. County units adopt constitutions that include establishment of the makeup of the two governing bodies. In the case of SD 42, the central committee is comprised of the unit’s officers, directors, precinct chairs and associate precinct chairs, and committee chairs. The executive committee is made up of the unit’s officers and directors.
Precinct
The precinct is often referred to as the “grass roots” level of political participation. It encompasses one small geographic area where voting is held—a township, a small town, or a small section of a larger community. The precinct caucus is where the DFL organizational process begins. At DFL caucuses:
- precinct chairs and associate chairs are elected
- resolutions are discussed and adopted
- delegates to a county unit/SD convention are elected.
In SD 42, the precinct chair and associate chairs are voting members of the SD 42 DFL Central Committee.
Precinct chairs and associate chairs are also responsible for organizing their precincts for the DFL during the election process.
For more about precinct caucuses go here to read "DFL 101: Caucus".
For in-depth information about the Minnesota DFL Party, go here and click on "About the DFL".