Invest In Choice

What is a CPC?

Part 1: Key Dates

February 7: Precinct Caucuses

March and April: Senate District and County Unit Conventions

April and May: Congressional District Conventions

April 30: Independence Party State Convention

May 4-5: Republican Party State Convention

June 1-3: DFL Party State Convention

CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL PARTY UNITS ON THE DATES AND TIMES OF CONVENTIONS!

Part 2: The Basics

At Precinct Caucuses, attendees:

• Elect precinct-level officers to organize the party

• Elect delegates to the Senate District and County Unit conventions

• Begin to shape the party platform

At Senate District and County Unit conventions,delegates:

• Endorse candidates for state Legislature (Senate District only)

• Elect Senate District and County Unit officers to organize the party

• Elect delegates to the Congressional District and State conventions

• Continue to shape the party platform

At Congressional District conventions, delegates:

• Endorse candidates for Congress

• Elect Congressional District officers to organize the party

• Continue to shape the party platform

At State conventions, delegates:

• Endorse a candidate for US Senate

            • Continue to shape the party platform

Part 3: The Details

Precinct Caucuses (These are neighborhood organizing meetings)

Unsure of your caucus location? Click here.

The caucuses all begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, and will be located in your neighborhood. At the caucuses we’re asking you to do three things:

1. Talk to your neighbors about why reproductive health and rights matter to you. There will be a lot of people who believe in access to reproductive health care and oppose the voter I.D. amendment – ask those folks to sign up to volunteer to help both defeat the amendment and endorse pro-choice values. For the folks who are still making up their minds, having a conversation with you will be an important step in building respect and awareness around issues of access.

2. Run to be a Delegate. Usually becoming a delegate to the Senate District Caucus is as simple as raising your hand and signing up. It’s important that we have as many Delegates for Choice as we can and if you can’t become a delegate, sign up as an alternate (many alternates are allowed to become delegates). The delegates to Senate District Conventions get to meet the candidates and ultimately decide which candidates will be endorsed by their political party for the Minnesota Legislature. If we want to make sure that 2013 is a better year for us than 2011, we need to select and elect better candidates.

3. Introduce Resolutions. Minnesota’s political parties have ongoing platforms, the document that lists the beliefs of the party and the issues the party is fighting for. To add something to the platform, attendees introduce resolutions. This is often as simple as handing copies of the resolutions forward when the chair asks for them.

RESOLUTIONS:

Defend Safe, Legal Abortion for Women

Comprehensive Health Coverage for All

Opposing Amending the Minnesota Constitution to Restrict the Right of Eligible Voters to Cast a Ballot

After the Caucuses make sure to report back to NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota how your conversations went and whether or not you’re a delegate to the next level. Contact Grassroots Organizer Dan Buck at danb@prochoiceminnesota.org or 651.602.7655.