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How to Start Your Own Political Party

I suspect it?s a very good thing I have a great job that keeps me busy, and happy, about 12 hours of the day. Otherwise, I?d make a real nuisance of myself. I?m one of those people who thinks the following things would be fun to do:

1) Draft an Oregon Initiative or propose a Congressional Bill for the fun and education of it. (Voting rights for 16 year olds or Clapping is allowed only at the end of the State of the Union Address, maybe?) Take a look at this Tennessee website, ?Nine Steps to Draft a Bill? -- excellent description. And here is Oregon?s version (and also look at this Legislative Concepts PDF).

2) Run for office (I would be a great state or nation-wide Legal Research Czarina, though that sounds more like an appointed position so I need to work on this). Take a look at the Oregon Woman?s Campaign School.

3) Start a religion (Church of Legal Research, maybe? Notice my one-track mind.)

4) Or just plain make a nuisance of myself at public meetings (and don't forget this).

So, recently I wondered How DO You Create a Political Party? (And if you listen to the news, you are probably wondering the very same thing!)

It?s probably about as easy as the above activities, which means it's not necessarily easy as in "swallow a pill" or "press the enter button" or "buy one, get one free" easy -- rather it's easy as in ?exercise more, eat less? is an easy way to stay healthy.

Or, as President Obama has said, ?... there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.? (Inaugural Address, 1/20/09))

But if you can read, follow directions (and the law), and enjoy the whole ?putting together the puzzle pieces? of the task, there is a fair amount of help on the web.

Naturally, you?ll want to check with your own state?s laws, but here is some starter reading on

How to Start Your Own Political Party:

From eHow: How to Start a Political Party
From Slate: How to Start a Political Party, by Daniel Engber
From Google: ?how to start a political party?

In Oregon, start your research at the Secretary of State?s website.

Doesn?t this sound like fun? And laughing, thinking, and working are always much more satisfying than complaining, whining, and shouting.

No one does political party-creation better than the U.K. Get a load of this list, especially the minor and joke parties (current and defunct).

Full post as published by Oregon Legal Research on February 26, 2010 (boomark / email).