During the congressional caucus era, what was commonly referred to as the "King Caucus"?

The term "King Caucus" refers to the centralized nomination system used by political parties during the congressional caucus era, particularly in the early 19th century. This system was characterized by the practice where members of Congress from the same party would gather in a caucus to select their party’s candidate for presidency. The name reflects the significant power held by these congressional caucuses in determining party nominees, which was seen as undemocratic and exclusive because it removed the nomination process from a broader public involvement.

During this time, party nominations were not yet open to the wider electorate, and instead relied on a small group of party elite making decisions behind closed doors. The notion of a "king" implies that the caucus had an authoritative control over the nomination process, wielding far-reaching influence over who would become the party's presidential candidate. This method was eventually criticized and led to reforms that favored the inclusion of the electorate in the nomination process, paving the way for future systems that allowed for primaries and more democratic participation in selecting candidates.