Extensive preparations are made for the National Convention. Party officials as a general rule work up a “draft program,” a summary of proposed Party aims on current issues, national and international. This “draft program” is widely circulated, with members being asked to discuss indicated approaches. Then, theoretically, the convention, based on the opinions developed, adopts a final program. Actually, in practice, the draft program represents a technique whereby the leadership “sells” the membership the ideas it wants to stress. Frequently, convention reports, resolutions, and speeches, properly edited, are later published. They serve as policy guides for the membership. Never forgotten are Soviet trimmings. Proudly read on the floor of the Sixteenth National Convention (February 9-12, 1957) were greetings from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Other Communist Parties in China, Canada, Italy, Japan, and Czechoslovakia also sent “best wishes.” From these, members gain a sense of communist solidarity, or, in Party language, _proletarian internationalism_, the feeling that they are integral parts of the world-wide communist movement. This is one of the driving forces of modern-day communism: the Party-promoted idea that no member is alone, that he is part of a vast movement which, in communist eyes, is destined to conquer the world. Singing the “Internationale,” the communist marching song, also engenders this feeling. The Three Levels of Power The Party’s organizational structure may be likened to layers in a pyramid, one placed on top of the other. 1. The top level centers around national headquarters and contains the Party’s policy-making organs (1) _National Committee_; (2) _National Executive Committee_; and (3) _National Administrative Committee_. With ruthless hand this echelon rules the Communist Party, USA. The designation given here is the current arrangement, which is always subject to change. The Party never hesitates to reshuffle its top administrative bodies, changing their names and sizes. For many years, for example, it had national officers: National Chairman, William Z. Foster, and General Secretary, Earl Browder and, later, Eugene Dennis. The power remains, however, in the hands of a small minority. 2. The second or middle level contains the many administrative organs that implement the decisions of the inner hierarchy: (1) _various commissions and departments_; (2) _special organizers_; and (3) _front groups_. 3. The bottom or third level is broad and extensive and contains all the subordinate regional and local units in the Party: that is, _district organizations_, and, in turn, various _state_, _county_, _city_, _section_, and _club_ setups. This level encompasses the entire nation.