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Elections
- Voting in America: A Right with Rules – Lesson
- Winning the Presidency Isn’t as Easy as it Might Sound – Lesson
- Winning the Presidency Isn’t as Easy as it Might Sound – Quiz
- The Primary and Caucus Process – Lesson
- The Primary and Caucus Process – Quiz
- Super Tuesday: The Biggest Day in Primary Voting – Lesson
- Super Tuesday: The Biggest Day in Primary Voting – Quiz
- Delegates and Superdelegates – What are They? – Lesson
- Delegates and Superdelegates – What are They? – Quiz
- The Importance of Political National Conventions – Lesson
- The Importance of Political National Conventions – Quiz
- Political Spending: Does More Money Mean More Votes? – Lesson
- Political Spending: Does More Money Mean More Votes? – Quiz
- Who Donates to Politicians? – Lesson
- Who Donates to Politicians? – Quiz
- How Economics Has Shaped Elections – Lesson
- Presidential Debates: What Is the Moderator’s Job? – Lesson
- How Does the Electoral College Work? – Lesson
- How Does the Electoral College Work? – Quiz
- Why the Electoral College is Important – Lesson – VIDEO
- Why the Electoral College is Important – Quiz
- Campaign Money: Where Does It Go After Election Day? – Lesson
- Campaign Money: Where Does It Go After Election Day? – Quiz
- ‘Shaping’ the Nation: Is It Redistricting or Gerrymandering? – Lesson
- ‘Shaping’ the Nation: Is It Redistricting or Gerrymandering? – Quiz
- It’s Primary Season in the United States – Lesson
- It’s Primary Season in the United States – Quiz
- Which Way the Wind Blows: Straw Polls and US Elections – Lesson
- Which Way the Wind Blows: Straw Polls and US Elections – Quiz
The Primary and Caucus Process – Lesson
It’s important to understand how the political parties select their candidates.
The majority of presidential contenders are members of two dominant political parties in America: The Republican Party and Democratic Party. Two candidates end up going head-to-head in the presidential election – but how do we choose who gets to compete? The candidates go through months of campaigning that serves, in part, as a weeding out process leading to each party’s nominating conventions, which are usually held in July. At these conventions, each party formally announces its presidential nominee.
But getting to the convention involves winning each U.S. state’s primary or caucus – in a manner determined by either the political party or state government.
Caucus
A caucus is organized by state political parties and is traditionally known as a “meeting of neighbors.” Voters assemble on one day to discuss who they believe is the best candidate that represents their political platform. At the end of the meeting a vote is called, and delegates are selected to attend a county or state convention. Delegates pledge to support the winner of the caucus. These delegates go on to then select delegates to attend the national convention, where the final nominee for president is chosen.
Primary
A primary is run much like a general election. There are two types of primaries: open and closed. In a closed primary, voters who are members of either the Republican or Democratic Parties must vote only for the candidate in their same party. Open primaries allow people to vote for any candidate of their choice. They are organized by the state’s government and voters cast a secret ballot for the candidate of their choice. Whoever receives the popular vote is the winner of the primary.
In a presidential primary, the winner is also afforded the majority of the state’s delegates to the nominating convention.
The Days to Watch
The state of Iowa holds its caucus in early February – the very first day of primaries and caucuses. They are followed by New Hampshire, and the two are usually a sign of how the rest of the country will vote. The biggest day is Super Tuesday, at the very beginning of March. This day is incredibly important, as 35.2% of delegates are up for grabs – the largest one-day tally of results. Many candidates begin dropping out after Super Tuesday.
By June, there is usually a clear winner heading to the nominating convention.