On the evening of Tuesday, February 1, 2022, Minnesotans just like you will gather at libraries, schools, town halls, etc, for the biennial process of precinct caucuses.
Precinct caucuses are meetings run by Minnesota’s major and minor political parties. The caucus is the first in a series of meetings where parties may endorse candidates, select delegates for the County/Senate District Conventions, and set party goals and values (called party platforms) through resolutions.
➡️ Where do I caucus?
Each political party runs its caucus meetings a little differently. Check directly with a political party to answer specific questions about how they are run.
Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) caucus information
Republican Party of Minnesota (MN GOP) caucus information
Resolutions
What is a resolution? A resolution is an idea, a policy, or a value that you would like to see discussed by caucus attendees. At your caucus, you can submit resolutions in writing for consideration and inclusion into the party’s platform as well as for discussion by attendees.
Resolutions are position statements that can be adopted at the precinct level and advanced to become party positions at the state level. They are good for raising the profile of an issue and forming a candidate’s campaign by showing what is important to Minnesotans.
Some of CURE’s partner organizations have drafted resolutions about progressive rural issues. Feel free to present these resolutions at your caucus or use them as inspiration to write your own.
Sample Resolutions
Electric Co-ops Resolution
Local Clean Energy Resolution
A Minnesota for All Resolution
2022 Caucus for Climate Resolutions – Sierra Club + Partners
Clean Transportation for All
100% Clean Energy
Prove It First
No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Soil-Healthy Farming
Maximize Forest Carbon Sequestration
2022 Democracy Resolutions – League of Women Voters – Minnesota
Campaign Finance: Disclosure of Electioneering Communications
Early Voting
Pre-Registration for High School Students
Automatic Voter Registration
Restore the Right to Vote
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board
Copper/Nickel Sulfide Mining
Agriculture and Food – Pollinators
Health Care
Firearm Background Checks
Early Childhood Education
Government – Single Subject Rule
Government – Conference Committees
Writing a resolution
- It is usually one-page
- Outlines a problem or opportunity (the issue)
- Shows the reasons for a position of this issue
- “Therefore be it resolved” = your policy statement about what should be done about the issue
Presenting & adopting a resolution
- Resolutions must be presented in writing—bring copies with you—and
- Present your proposal to your caucus and your reasons for bringing the resolutions.
- Be persuasive! You are presenting your issue to your neighbors, let them know why you all need to care about this issue.
- If there is disagreement on the resolution, the caucus chair will lead the debate
- Finally, the caucus takes a vote on adopting the resolution or not.
- Passed resolutions will move up to the next level of party organizing, might be combined with similar resolutions, and will hopefully be adopted as a party plank.
READ MORE: How a caucus resolution becomes a party platform plank
➡️ More caucus resources
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Because COVID is still a major concern in Minnesota, each party and precinct may ask participants to take certain precautions such as masking or showing proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. Please check with your local party unit for your precinct’s COVID protocols.
