History

A caucus is a meeting of a group of persons of the same political party who select candidates or decide on policy. The caucus process has been used since Iowa became a state in the 1840s, but Iowa's First in the Nation status did not gain its current political and media prominence until the 1970s. Caucus meetings for both political parties are held every other year. Prior to 1972, Iowa's caucuses were held during the middle of the primary calendar.

In 1972, however, the Democrat Party moved its caucus from the early Spring to January. That year, George McGovern used the First in the Nation status to gain attention and influence during his bid for the presidency. In 1976, the Republican Party of Iowa moved its caucus up the calendar to coincide with the Democrats. Political and media attention focused acutely on the caucuses in 1976 when a virtually unknown candidate from Georgia won the Democrat's Iowa caucus. Jimmy Carter instantly became the frontrunner and eventually won the presidency that year. Since then, the First in the Nation caucus has only gathered more media attention and influence.

Purpose

Iowans take the caucuses very seriously and respect their position as First in the Nation. Many Iowans meet candidates personally and ask them detailed questions about particular policies. Some presidential candidates have noted that Iowa voters ask some of the most sophisticated and nuanced policy questions they receive while on the campaign trail.

All 1,774 precincts in Iowa hold a Republican caucus. Caucus sites are normally in public buildings such as churches, schools or libraries. In Presidential years, the caucus' most popular function is to nominate the President.

Caucuses are also used, however, for state party business. The precinct caucus is where one is elected to a leadership position in one's county, it is the first step to becoming a delegate to the state convention and it is where platform changes to the Republican Party of Iowa's Constitution are introduced. Official business of the precinct caucus includes electing members to the county Republican central committee, electing delegates, alternates and junior delegates to the county convention, electing precinct people to any committees for the County Convention and discussing and submitting platform issues to the County Convention.

Republicans do not need to be of voting age to participate in the Republican caucus. A caucus participant must be a registered Republican, must be 18 years old by election day of the election year and must reside in the precinct he/she is caucusing in order to participate.

One shouldn't confuse the caucus with the three conventions that follow. After the precinct caucus, each county Republican Party convenes the Republican County Convention. At the County Convention, County Parties discuss the County Platform and elect delegates to the District and State Conventions.

At the District Convention, delegates elect members to different committees to the State Convention. Delegates also elect three State Central Committee Members to represent the district at the Republican Party of Iowa. Finally, delegates debate the platform again.

At State Convention, delegates debate the platform and elect the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, who will represent Iowa Republicans at the Republican National Committee. The platform of the Republican Party of Iowa is debated and voted upon at State Convention also. You will often hear the term "Caucus to Convention." Caucus to convention is merely the period of activity between the beginning of the caucus in the early spring to the state convention.