Some states hold primaries, in Minnesota we use the caucus system. Since the early days of Minnesota's statehood, caucuses have been used to select delegates to nominating conventions.
Caucus begins at 7:00 p.m. The Republican party will meet at the Menahga City Hall, while the Democratic Party will meet ay the High School Media Center.
Remember--You can get gov in action points for this. Also-Barack Obama will be at the Target Center on Saturday. It is a free event and doors open at 1:30. If you go, bring something back--a flyer, picture......
What happens at the caucus????
A caucus is a meeting in your neighborhood, held every two years, where people talk politics. They're normally set up at community centers or in classrooms not far from your home.
"Hopefully coffee will be on, and it will be a lot of friendly talk and discussion," Ron Carey, the state GOP chair said.
"You're going to see a room full of people who are politically active and politically concerned, and you're going to see tables with various stacks of paper," Brian Melendez, the chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party said.
A lot of party business gets done at caucuses. But if you're a Democrat, and it's a presidential election year like this one, you don't have to stick around.
"Let's say all you really care about is the presidential election," Melendez said. "You can come, pick up a presidential preference ballot, fill out your ballot, turn it in, and leave, if that's all that you're really concerned about."
It is a secret ballot, so it's not like the Iowa caucuses, where you're forced to announce your loyalty in front of your neighbors.
And on the DFL side, the results of the caucuses are binding. That means Democratic candidates win delegates to the national nominating convention based on the number of votes they receive.
It's a complicated formula, but it basically breaks down like this: Minnesota will send 88 delegates to the Democratic Convention this summer in Denver. Of those delegates, 72 will be assigned on caucus night, in proportion to the vote totals. The other 16 delegates are so called "super delegates" who support whichever candidate they choose.
On the Republican side, the results are not binding. So the presidential vote is really just a public opinion poll.
"It influences, but does not mandate, who is going to get the national delegates out of Minnesota at the national convention," Carey said. The delegates are assigned at the state convention in the spring.
The main business at a Republican caucus is picking local party leaders and learning more about candidates for various offices. Then caucus goers decide which issues they want listed in the state Republican Party platform.
He adds: "It's a wonderful exercise in democracy. It's about as close to direct democracy as we get here in America."
And on that point, both parties agree.
"You're going to find it's probably pretty rewarding, and not the intimidating process that some people think it is," Carey said.
The Democrats and Republicans have an informational sites if you would like to learn more about what to expect on Tuesday.
Go here for Democrats http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={3FE7BDD2-0932-45A2-8B80-86BA06F6D836}
Go here for Republicans
http://www.mngop.com/caucus2008/
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13 comments:
The causcus concept is definately a little confusing. I think that I will attend the caucus on Tuesday night. It sounds interesting and could potentially teach me a lot about the system which Minnesota uses. It seems like the Democratic caucus is easier. You can come and go, just make sure you vote. The republican caucus requires voters to decide on other party issues. I still don't really understand the delegate thing. I hope that Tuesday night will teach me some important things about caucuses and turn me towards who I will vote for in November.
The caucus sounds like a good thing to have. If I was to go I wouldn't want to stick around so the Democratic one sounds the best. 72 of the 88 delegates are assigned on Tuesday which sounds like a lot and only 16 are free to choose which ever candidate they want. I thought it would be more even and one party wouldn't have as many delegates. I guess that's why I haven't really paid too much attention to the caucus.
caucus is kinda wierd i guess but i think i will show up for the caucus jus to be there and say i did it
i think that the causcus are a little confusing just because i am really new at it and dont all the time know what is going on. The caucus on Tuesday night sounds very interesting and could teach me alot on how peach president will change the country.
i would like to go to the republican causcus because james has really been teahcing me alot and i it is intersting to hear what each canidate it willing to do. I am hoping that when i go it will teach me alot and get me ready for the vote in November.
Caucus Shmacus... no not really, but I really think that all this is really pretty confusing. I haven't decided if I am going to go or not. I think that it would be interesting to find out more about how this all works. Sometimes, it is hard to figure out everything unless you see it all in person....
i think people should go to support their party! Republicans rule!
Aaron just because they said the democratic caucus is easier doesn't mean they are liberals. It is probably better that the democratic caucus is easier becasue they dont really discuss things like the republicans do therefore republicans have an advantage because they know all the viewpoints. Aaron quit being so JUDGEMENTAL!!!
i don't know who or what political party i am leaning towards this year but all i have to say is that i like both of these ways of cuacusing.
i like that you can discuss all of the issues being brought up about on the republican side, it sounds like to me that you get to know your party a little better.
but i also like how, if you don't want to stick around and just discuss lots of issues you have, you can vote- and leave. i think it is very handy.
so both are good. i am going to try and go to either one. not sure yet. who knows.
I attended the democratic caucus on tuesday, and it was a lot like i expected. We went in, registered, voted and left.We could have stayed and discussed issues like social security, medicare, and budgets. Some people stood up and said what they thought, while others made "resolutions" that were to be looked over during the meeting, then accepted or rejected. It was very interesting, however i did not stay for the whole thing because it ended up to be about 2 hours long.
The caucus is really confusing to me. I went to the republican caucus on tuesday. We went and signed a piece of paper. Picked delegates and alternatives for the event coming up in march. It was a different kind of experience but i think it was worth it and i hope i will be ready for the elections come November 4th.
I was confused on how the caucus worked but I think i know understand what they do. I think it is really cool that each and everyone of us can have a say on who we want to be the representative of what ever party we belong too.
I think the caucus's warm people up for the election. They can see how each canidate views the issues and decide which one they like best. They may think they like a certain canidate and then find out that they don't like how that canidate stands on certain issues..
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