State Party Chairmen: a Profile

as state and local politics, make only casual references to state chairmen, or no observations at all.2 With a few exceptions, the literature on the politics of specific geographical regions are equally without information about these party leaders.3 This study represents a limited attempt to fill this gap in the literature of political parties. Three general aspects of state chairmen are examined. First, the backgrounds and characteristics of chairmen are examined to provide a general picture of the types of individuals who occupy these positions. Second, the roles of state chairmen are analyzed in order to ascertain the relative importance of the various tasks normally assumed to be played by them. Third, and finally, an analysis of the motivations of chairmen will be undertaken, focusing upon those motives which are of some importance in explaining why state chairmen are active