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• Open CRS (User submitted)
• U.S. Department of State

Summary

Every four years, the presidential nominating process generates complaints and proposed modifications, and the rapid pace of primaries and caucuses that characterized the 2000 and 2004 cycles will continue in 2008. Because many states scheduled early contests in the 2000 cycle, both parties subsequently created task forces on the process. For a time the parties pursued a cooperative effort to confront problems associated with front-loading for 2004. In the end, Democrats approved moving up state primary dates for 2004, but retained Iowa and New Hampshire's early events; Republicans rejected a proposed reform plan. At the state level, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) supports a regional primary plan that would rotate regional dates every four years. Although the 2008 calendar is still subject to change, the Democratic Party approved changes to its calendar rules again last year. In July 2006, the party's Rules and Bylaws Committee extended an exemption to Nevada and South Carolina (Iowa and New Hampshire were previously exempted) from the designated period for holding delegate selection events; and the Committee proposed sanctions for any violations. With the exception of these four states, Democratic party delegate selection rules dictate that the first determining step in choosing national convention delegates cannot begin until February 5, 2008. On August 25, 2007, the Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of its national convention delegates because the legislature scheduled the Presidential primary for January 29, a date that conflicts with party rules. Additionally, the Michigan Democratic Party is considering a caucus process to select delegates, after a number of Democratic candidates vowed not to campaign in the Michigan primary, scheduled for January 15. In the 110th Congress, four bills to reform the nominating process by establishing a regional system of primaries and caucuses have been introduced (H.R. 3487, H.R. 1523, S. 1905, and S. 2024). The Senate Rules and Administration Committee convened a hearing on S. 1905 on September 19, 2007. Front-loading is only the most recent among a list of complaints about the nominating system, which has avoided wholesale change despite criticism every four years from voters, the candidates, and the press. After several decades of debate, observers are divided on the best approach to reform. The lack of consensus for reworking the primary system is due partly to its complex design, which frustrates pursuit of a simple, obvious solution, and partly to the political parties pursuing their own variable interests concerning their delegate selection rules. The states further complicate the process by independently scheduling primary election dates. Congress, political commentators, and academics have offered various reform proposals over the years, but many important dimensions of reform depend on whether the parties are willing to change the system for choosing delegates to their national conventions.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.3487
• H.R.1523
• S.1905
• S.2024

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