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King Caucus
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King Caucus

United States history
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Quick Summary

"King Caucus" refers to an early, informal method of nominating U.S. presidential candidates used by political parties from 1796 to 1824. This system involved caucuses of party members in Congress who would meet to select their presidential and vice presidential nominees.12

This practice left the general public with no direct input into the nomination process. The Federalist Party's decline made the Democratic-Republican caucus nomination virtually equivalent to election. Critics, even within the party, resented this undemocratic system, leading to its disrepute by 1824. The term "King Caucus" was used by its detractors to highlight its perceived autocratic nature.1

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. presidency of the United States of America - ā€œ King Caucus ā€
  2. caucus
  3. presidency of the United States of America - Post-1968 reforms
  4. 'Caucus': A Curious American Word

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