A precinct caucus is the beginning of a political party in Minnesota and is at the precinct level. It is required under state law to be the first Tuesday in February in an even numbered year.
In 2012 the date is Tuesday, February 7. Anyone who professes a belief in the principles of the party whose precinct caucus they attend and will vote for Republicans in the next election may participate. You will elect or run as a delegate to the BPOU (basic political organizational unit of a party either organized by county or by State Senate District or State House District) convention. Also you will be allowed to submit resolutions that will travel up to higher level conventions, BPOU, Congressional District, and finally to the State convention. In the Republican Party of Minnesota there is a permanent platform so the resolutions you submit can modify, replace, delete, or add planks to the platform. You will also be able to participate in the Presidential straw Poll.
Why is it important?
The precinct caucus is the point where the party begins. In Minnesota we have a grass roots political system. From here you elect the delegates to the BPOU conventions (a 2 year assignment). At the BPOU convention resolutions are approved or denied and the approved passed to the Congressional District. Here at the BPOU convention delegates are elected to the Congressional District and to the State Convention. In the odd number year these same delegates will elect local BPOU officers and delegates to the State Central Committee. Delegates elected at the BPOU level for the Congressional District Convention will in odd number years at the Congressional District Convention elect officers for the Congressional District one of whom will be the Congressional District representative to the State Executive Committee. Those State Central Committee delegates elected at the BPOU level will at a State Central Committee meeting elect the State Party officers. At the Congressional District convention and at the State convention delegates to the National convention are elected.
As you can see everything starts in the party at the precinct caucus and you can have a hand in shaping the party. All you need to do is attend your precinct caucus on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.
PrecinctCaucuses 2012