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Primaries & Caucuses
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,Publishing as Longman
Party FunctionsPolitical Party
An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy
Unify the Electorate
Help Organize Government
Translate Preferences into Policy
Provide Loyal Opposition
Organize the Competition
CaucusesCaucuses
Closed meeting of party members in each state Delegates select the party’s choice for presidential candidate Currently, six states, including Nevada in 2008, offer party
caucuses selecting presidential nominees.
Barrack Obama campaigns in Iowa
CaucusesCaucuses
Hilary Clinton (D) and Rudy Guilliani (R) campaigning in Iowa
Questions for Discussion:
1. The Iowa Caucus was on January 3, 2008. Why is it so important?
2. Brainstorm pros and cons to the caucus format.
Primaries
Primary Season - January - June
Who Decides? - State party organizations for the most part decide the rules for the primaries in a particular state.
Types of Primaries: Closed Primaries Open Primaries
Presidential Primary Elections - special elections in which voters select candidates to be the party’s nominee for president in the general election.
Mitt Romney campaigning in New Hampshire
Closed Primary• Voters may vote in a party's primary only if
they are registered members of that party
Open Primary
• A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his or her own party affiliation.
Methods of Selecting Presidential Delegates by State
2008 Open & Closed Primaries
Map of 2008 Primary & Caucus Dates