Primary and Caucus: Fact, Choice, Defend
Learn about primary and caucus features while deciding and defending if they should stay or go.
Primary and Caucus: Fact, Choice, Defend
Guiding Question
- What is a primary election?
- What is a caucus?
- How are the two similar and different?
Objectives
- I can compare primaries and caucuses based on their purpose, function, similarities, and differences.
Directions: Read each fact, mark if you think it should stay or go, and defend your reasoning. Your defense should acknowledge the consequences for removing any “fact.”
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Fact |
Choice |
Defend |
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By the principle of federalism, elections are reserved powers (run by states). |
Stay Go |
Every state can make their own decisions resulting in different election procedures, so… |
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Before becoming a presidential candidate for a major party, a political hopeful needs to secure a political party nomination. |
Stay Go |
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Primaries and caucuses help determine who will be on the ballot for a general election. |
Stay Go |
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Primaries are state-run “pre-elections” in which voters pick between candidates of one political party. |
Stay Go |
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An “open primary” means registered voters can vote for a candidate from either party (but not both). |
Stay Go |
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A “closed primary” means only registered members of a political party can vote for a candidate on that party’s ticket. |
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Caucuses are run by political parties and held at county, district, or precinct level. |
Stay Go |
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Caucuses are meeting-style gatherings where members of each party discuss and debate before voting. |
Stay Go |