Why does the primary/caucus/convention process keep on changing?
The Constitution contains no guidelines for the nomination process, so it’s mostly regulated by the two major parties, which have adjusted the process over the years to both suit their interests and respond to public demands. The Reform party has a less formal process that operates on a different schedule than that of the big two. Before 1905, party bosses in each state handpicked their choice of candidate, leaving the general population with no say in the electoral process until the general election. Over time, most states switched to the caucuses and primaries, although many of those remained virtually meaningless for decades, as local delegates weren’t bound to nominate the candidates who received the most votes. Instead, they would head to state conventions where their votes were bartered among local power brokers, thus keeping the power in the hands of the small cadre of party bosses. State party heads would then show up at the national convention and barter their delegates for co
