resolutions on public matters, as well as the institutional practice of not sponsoring forums where members might analyze and debate such matters as the Vietnam War. Two political science professors and APSA members led the campaign and then founding of the Caucus. H. Mark Roelofs, from New York University, and Christian Bay from the University of Alberta are credited with forming the ideological basis of the organization. Bay was a prominent scholar, best known for his book The Structure of Freedom which presented a critique of systems analysis and the prioritizing of abstract concepts over the practical needs of society. The catalyst for Roelofs and Bay's formal break with APSA emerged after several resolutions (many involving the Vietnam War and other public policy issues) were officially rejected or tabled by the APSA executive committee at the 1967 annual meeting in Chicago. At the time, active discussion and the taking of a position by APSA on the Vietnam War were forbidden under Article II of APSA’s constitution. The constitution stated that the association would “not commit its members on questions of public policy nor take positions not immediately concerned with its direct purpose.” Within APSA In 1969, two years after the controversial 1967 meeting, CNPS nominated a full ticket of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as candidates for open Executive Council and Nominating Committee positions. The Caucus’ decision created an election scenario without precedent in APSA, and it was decided that it would be conducted by mail, and administered by the American Arbitration Association. The CNPS leadership continued throughout the 1970s to run candidates for executive offices each year, until 1979. In each of those elections, the Caucus failed to win the presidency, coming closest in 1972 when Peter Bacharach captured 49.5% of the vote. However, results would decline throughout the rest of the decade and the Caucus ceased to nominate candidates. The failed bids to win executive seats caused members to leave the Caucus, the most-prominent being Alan Wolfe in 1971, and Theodore J. Lowi a few years later. Critics have suggested that CNPS has become “just another interest group within APSA” by abandoning its electoral challenges. Others suggest CNPS helped transform the culture of APSA opening the door for progressive sections like the Women & Politics section, Race & Ethnicity section, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual & Transgender sections as well as affiliated groups like the APSA Labor