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The California College Republicans (CCR) is a statewide organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States. The organization is known as an active recruiting tool for the Republican Party and has produced many prominent Republican and conservative activists and introduced more party members to the Republican party than any other organization in the nation.

The organizational structure of the College Republicans has changed significantly since its founding in 1892. Founded as an organization for the Republican National Committee, the College Republicans now operate as an independent 527 group. After the Young Republican National Federation was spun off from the College Republicans organization in 1972, the groups operate independently of one another.

Founding and early history
The California College Republicans

Modern history
In

State federations
There are 52 College Republican state federations, each administering the College Republican activities at the state level, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and in the District of Columbia. The state federation leadership team, which includes a state chairperson and other officers, serve as the primary link between local university chapters and the national College Republican National Committee. The state chairman serves as the representative for College Republicans when dealing with the state Republican Party, local media, and governmental entities. State federations are responsible for organizing and assisting local chapters with securing proper credentials, recruitment efforts, and campus voter canvasses. It is a state federation's responsibility to organize and implement activities for statewide campaigns. Like the national organization, state federations operate as non-profit associations that are not legally affiliated with the Republican Party.

Campus chapters
The college and university-based chapters of the College Republicans operate in a dual capacity as student clubs associated with a particular campus and as members of their state federation and the College Republican National Committee. Like the state federations and national committee, the campus chapters are affiliated with their local Republican Party, but are not official arms of that organization. The chapter chairperson and leadership team are responsible for maintaining the campus club's credentials and constitution, and representing the College Republicans when dealing with university administration, other student groups, and in the surrounding community. The campus chapter leadership team might include many members, with administrative responsibilities delegated to dormitory and Greek chapter chairpersons.

Notable College Republicans
In California:


 * Pete Wilson, Former Governor of California
 * Shawn Steel, Republican National Committeeman from California and Former Chairman of the California Republican Party
 * Fred Whitaker, Chairman of the Orange County Republican Party and Former Orange City Councilman

Nationally:


 * Jack Abramoff, lobbyist
 * Lee Atwater, Republican strategist
 * Charles R. Black, Jr., lobbyist and advisor to the McCain presidential campaign
 * Morton Blackwell, conservative activist
 * Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and Secretary of State was elected president of her College Republican chapter at Wellesley College, before switching parties due to the Vietnam War
 * Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
 * Rick Davis, manager of the McCain campaign
 * Jim Gilmore, former Governor of Virginia
 * Patrick McHenry, North Carolina Congressman
 * Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform president
 * Tom Pauken, Texas Republican Party Chairman Emeritus
 * Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Christian Coalition executive director and political consultant
 * Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush and a current contributor to Fox News, who served as executive director, and then national chairman, of the CRNC during his time in the organization
 * Paul Ryan, 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
 * Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator
 * Roger Stone, political consultant
 * Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator
 * Joshua Workman, political consultant

Activities
The CRNC organizes election-year field representative programs to send paid staffers to recruit and train students and chapters nationwide. Former national chair Jack Abramoff founded the field representative program in 1981. The program faltered during the 1980s and was revived during the late 1990s.

During the election season, campus chapters are responsible for organizing and implementing the campus canvas, running mock elections, managing the local get-out-the-vote efforts. At other times, the campus chapters will organize issue advocacy and lobbying efforts, welcome conservative guest speakers to campus, and organize social events and other recruitment activities.

During the election season, the CRNC focuses on developing a "mass based youth effort" directed toward electing Republican candidates. The CRNC often sends paid field representatives to individual campuses to assist in organizing the election efforts. Generally the hired field representative or chapter chair begins the school year with membership tables on campus for recruitment. Members use door-to-door canvassing and word of mouth to identify and register as many Republican voters among the student body as possible. These individuals are encouraged to vote through an absentee ballot and assist the candidates with election day Get Out The Vote efforts. Chapters occasionally run student mock elections and other special events as a means to gain positive earned media attention for a candidate.