There may be provided a committee of each party for the state and each political subdivision of the state, including counties, the committees to be selected in such manner as may be provided for by the governing authority of each party, but if there shall not be elected or chosen any committee for any county or other political subdivision, then all the powers which could be exercised by any such committee shall be vested in the state executive committee, under such rules and regulations as the governing body of the party may designate, or the state committee or the chair thereof may appoint a county committee to act until such a committee is elected or chosen as provided by law or party rule. When a state executive committee of a party is provided, the state executive committee shall be the governing body of the party within the meaning of this chapter; except, that it may delegate to county executive committees authority over the conduct of party affairs within the respective counties, including authority over the conduct of primary elections within the respective counties.