Superdelegate

A super delegate (English: superdelegate ) is a high-ranking member of the Democratic Party in the United States, which may be turned on in order to clearly define the Democratic presidential candidate in the U.S. election campaign. Super delegates include the Democratic members of Congress and governors, and all former high-ranking party members.

The term " Super Delegate " is informal. Its official name is unpledged party leader and Elected official delegate ( German: not Obligated party leader and elected official delegate ). Super delegates are not bound to any candidate, as opposed to the delegates chosen in primaries. There was at the Democratic National Convention 2008 election of the presidential candidate 796 superdelegates. So they set about a fifth of the delegates.

The introduction of superdelegates in 1982, after the lost 1980 presidential election, decided. They wanted the active politicians of the Democratic Party to concede a greater role in the selection of the presidential candidate.

The Republicans have a similar process. There, the term super delegate is hardly used. More common, however, is unpledged delegate, ie " non pflichteter delegate ".