Post on 14-Jan-2015
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Flock(us) to the Caucus!
Vice President Kayley Schoonmaker & Director of Government Relations Sarah Clarke
Why Caucus?
Your opportunity to become a better advocate for Minnesota students!
It’s eggsciting and eggscellent!
Why Caucus?
What is the Caucus? Grassroots democracy in action!
You don’t shell out any $ to make your voice heard!
Meet with your neighbors to discuss issues that are important to you Because birds of a feather flock together!
Your opportunity to express your preference for candidates for political office
Not the Convention
Caucus Process vs. Primary
How to Caucus February 4th at 7 p.m.
Pick your political party Major parties are REQUIRED to hold
caucuses
Find your precinct caucus online at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website or your party’s website
Work or class on the 4th? Don’t scramble!
Resolutions
Written statements on issues that you want to be included in your political party’s platform that will be discussed and voted on
Bring copies of your resolutions to the caucus
Sample Resolution WHEREAS, Minnesota’s college students are
burdened with crushing student loan debt that prohibits them from more fully participating in Minnesota’s economy, and;
WHEREAS, a statewide student debt forgiveness program would help all students invest in Minnesota’s economy and thus, help all Minnesotans;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Hire Ed Party supports a statewide student loan forgiveness program for all students.
Sample Resolution WHEREAS: A $110 million investment in Higher
Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) would fund critical repairs at every campus in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system; and
WHEREAS: The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has proposed a $286.5 million capital budget (bonding) request; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That our party support full funding of the MnSCU capital budget request with HEAPR as the number 1 priority of that request.
On a resolution form (it doesn’t matter for which party), take five minutes to draft your own resolution
Then share your resolution with a partner
It does not need to be perfect, just take a crack at it!
Create your own Resolution
Delegates Great way to network and get more involved with
your party
Attend convention to support candidates
Pass resolutions to your party’s platform
Run to be a delegate to your congressional district and state convention
State Party determines the number of delegates per precinct
Your caucus may also conduct an informal poll for caucus goers to show their support for candidates
This helps candidates demonstrate momentum in contested endorsement battles
Candidate Straw Polls
Mock(us) Caucus
Elect Caucus Positions Elect Precinct Leadership Delegate and Alternate Selection
Resolutions Preference Ballot Results Adjourn
Hire Ed Party Caucus Agenda
Questions?
Go caucus!But do not cause a raucous.