I.
Caucus
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Are meetings of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party
convention
The beginning
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Caucuses were the party elite coming together to select delegates for the national
convention
Party bosses ran the show; they decided who went and how they voted
Today:
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They are open to all registered voters
Often diagrammed like a pyramid;
Bottom precinct level caucus
Next: county caucus
Next: Congressional district
Next: State Convention
Purpose: To choose delegates who attend national convention & to nominate
candidates
Primaries:
Number of primaries has increased 1968: 17; 1992: 40 1996: 42; 2000 43: 2008 40
Open
Closed
Blanket
Runoff: Some states require Candidates that do not get the required percent of the
votes to win; have a runoff primary between the top two candidates
When do these occur?
1. Open office
2. Lots of candidates
3. Many of the candidates are not well known
Purpose: To nominate a candidate for the general election & select delegates to the
convention
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When & why did this method come about?
After the 1968 democratic national convention
Antiwar wing of the party gained one concession from the party elite
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A special committee, the McGovern- Fraser Commission, was chosen to review selection
process of delegates and the party structure
Findings:
Minority, the poor and women lacked representation
Result:
The Commission was given a mandate to make the delegation process more
representative
All delegates were now chosen openly
What is the difference between caucus and primaries?
Primaries
1. Vote conducted by secret ballot
2. More participation
Caucus
1. Less participation
2. Open debate
Most states switched over to primaries due to the events of the 1968 democratic national
convention
Democrats have a 3rd way to select delegates for the national convention
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Super delegates: it was instituted in 1984: 15 percent of the seats were set aside for
these super delegates
Super delegates: They are granted delegation status automatically
Elected party leader i.e.: congressmen and important state leaders
Usually they support the front runner
Why are the 1st primaries and caucuses so important?
Media exposure
Fundraising more important
Candidates that receive less than 10 percent of primary vote do not qualify for federal
matching funds
As result:
Front Loading: moving up your primary so that states are more relevant in decision
making process.
Example California; has moved their primary up two times; 1948-1992 held 1st week in
June
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1996: moved it to late March; 2000 1st Tuesday in March
Who determines guidelines for delegation?
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Republicans
Allow states to come up with guidelines;
Democrats
Require all states to use some formula of proportional representation
Candidates that receive 15 % of the vote is rewarded some proportional set of delegates
Upsides vs. downsides of primaries and caucus
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Primaries are most democratic
Most representative way to select president
Sophisticated Voting: selecting a voters 2nd and 3rd choice because they may fare better
in a general election