On March 11, the national Democratic Party’s Rules Committee recommended an alteration in the party’s rules, concering the calendar for caucuses to choose a presidential nominee. Current rules do not permit any caucuses or primaries before the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. The new rule would permit two caucuses before New Hampshire’s primary (but still after Iowa’s caucus). The April meeting of the Democratic National Committee will hear presentations from state Democratic parties that wish to apply for the “early” slots. The Democratic National Committee will then make a final decision of whether to go ahead, and with which two states, in June.