With the first of the caucuses starting today in Iowa, i thought i would examine the American presidential system a bit. In most countries the choosing of a new president is done in a matter of weeks. Not so in the US where the race is a political marathon.

Every state holds either a caucus or a primary between January and September to choose their presidential candidate. A caucus is a meeting at which party members choose the state’s winning candidates. They require the party member to be present for their vote to be counted. A primary (first round election) means the members can show up at the nearest polling station to vote. Only a small number of states hold caucuses and their popularity is waning.

Joining a party in the US is as simple as ticking a box in a voter registration form. And in most states one can only vote for a candidate if they are affiliated with that party. As candidates win state primaries and caucuses they acrue delegates, or people who represent them at the national party conferences. Then when the national party conference comes around those with the most delegates ratifying the candidate will win its parties presidential nomination.

Candidates not looking to make the cut will drop out before the national convention. They simply cannot afford to continue but still have influence on the outcome by endorsing another candidate. The two candidates - one each from the Democrats and the Republicans then go on to a national election in October, with the inauguration on January 20th. More on that when the time comes.