Why is the Iowa caucus first?
Up until now, New Hampshire was first. The order is decided by the Democratic and Republican parties, in concert with the states. The individual states sometimes do not agree, but the parties have some power over them. Here’s a brief review of the history of primaries, and some ideas for reform. History There is no provision for the role of political parties in the United States Constitution, as political parties did not develop until the early 19th century. Before 1820, Democratic-Republican members of Congress would nominate a single candidate from their party. That system collapsed in 1824, and by 1832 the preferred mechanism for nomination was a national convention.[14] Delegates to the national convention were usually selected at state conventions whose own delegates were chosen by district conventions. Sometimes they were dominated by intrigue between political bosses who controlled delegates; the national convention was far from democratic or transparent. Progressive Era reforme
