The Primary Purpose of Presidential Primaries

Author

Dennis F. Thompson

Content Type

Journal Article

Journal

Political Science Quarterly

Volume

125

Issue Number

2

Publication Date

Summer 2010

Institution

Academy of Political Science

Abstract

DENNIS F. THOMPSON analyzes the capacity of presidential primaries to provide a test of the constitutional character of candidates. He argues that the primary process should be judged to be more or less democratic on the basis of the effective opportunities it gives voters to assess the democratic commitments of the candidates.