Bossism refers to having a political party that is run by a
strong leader, the "party boss," who along with his associates,
determines everything from which candidates can get elected to
which policies will get attention. In American history, there are
been times when both parties have succumbed to Bossism, and in
certain cities, the "political machine" of one candidate was so
powerful that it became nearly impossible for challengers to even
have a chance, no matter how good their ideas might have been. It
is usually a politician who is already in power (a mayor, a
governor) and wants to stay there who benefits from bossism, since
he (and it is usually a male) is often the one who sets up the
mechanisms to make sure he stays in control.