What Is A Caucus?

[KittyWampus]

There are so many politically savvy posters here on DU who have a much better grasp of the political process than I...

Would someone be able to fill me in? I could look it up on google but figured maybe one or two others might need the info as well.

Thanks :dunce:

[paulk]

1. I think it's an American Indian word

that means "meeting of the chiefs"

here are some links:

http://desmoinesregister.com/extras/politics/caucus2004/caucusfaq.html

http://www.iowacaucus.info/faq.htm

http://www.iowademocrats.org/index.php?topic=Caucus

[Egnever]

2. This link is very helpfull

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P04/

it has all the skiny when it comesa to the caucuses broken down into all kinds of detail.

[burr]

3. I can tell you about my caucus experience....

but a Georgia caucus is used for deciding who the delegates will be, not who they will represent, this is what our Presidential Primary is for. In 1996, I was a candidate to be a delegate in my Congressional District in Georgia. All of the local Democratic politicians were there...except for one major exception, Zell Miller. The State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, two Congressional candidates...one of whom would later drop out, two state Representatives, and two state Senators attended.

Each person seeking to be a delegate would give a speech about re-electing Bill Clinton, and how great all of the local politicians were. After all..there was no primary opposition in 96. The caucus was small, and held in a single room at North Georgia College. Two men and two women were picked to be delegates. Sadly every face attending the caucus in this district was pasty, pale, and white. I'm not sure how people were notified about the caucus, but I found out mostly through my local paper. Since I was a strong Clinton supporter in a district that was anti-Clinton, I felt this would be a great way to remain active in local politics.

It was alot of fun, but I still think it would have been more interesting in a more diverse district during a competitive year!

[Mairead]

4. A caucus is a private political gathering dedicated to

choosing candidates or deciding policy. It's apparently from the Algonquian word 'caucauasu' meaning 'council'.