Explain the difference between a caucus and a primary. Warm Up Explain the difference between a caucus and a primary.

Selecting a President 2016: Primaries & Caucuses

Presidential Selection Stage 1: Caucuses & Primaries The Battle for the Party Faithful Stage 2: Nominating Conventions “Glorified Infomercials?” Stage 3: General Election The Fight for the Center Stage 4: Electoral College Power to the People?

Stage 1: Caucuses Closed meeting of party members in each state Delegates select the party’s choice for presidential candidate Currently, six states offer party caucuses selecting presidential nominees.

Stage 1: Caucuses Questions for Discussion: Think-Pair-Share Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump campaign for Iowa. Questions for Discussion: Think-Pair-Share The Iowa Caucus is on February 1, 2016. Why is it so important? Brainstorm pros and cons to the caucus format.

Stage 1: Primaries Presidential Primary Elections - special elections in which voters select candidates to be the party’s nominee for president in the general election. Primary Season - February - 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 Jeb Bush 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.

Hajo De Reijger- www.caglecartoons.com What advantage did the democratic party have in the 2012 election process?