What is a caucus?

A caucus is a meeting of party members to discuss and select candidates for upcoming elections. This process typically involves gathering like-minded individuals within a political party to deliberate on the various candidates, share opinions, and ultimately make a collective decision on which candidate will represent the party in the election. The caucus allows party members to participate actively in the candidate selection process, emphasizing grassroots involvement and engagement within the party.

In contrast, other options describe different electoral systems or processes. A type of primary election refers to a mechanism where voters select candidates for the general election, which is distinct from the caucus format. A voting method in the general election pertains to how voters cast their votes during the actual election day, rather than the preliminary discussions characteristic of a caucus. Lastly, a form of direct democracy involves citizens voting directly on issues or candidates without intermediary representatives, which does not align with the structured party-oriented setting of a caucus.