New York Times Explains the Iowa Caucus System

This may come as a surprise, given all the media attention to the Iowa caucuses, but the caucuses tonight don't actually elect any delegates to the Democratic national convention. No, what they are doing tonight is selecting delegates to a bigger convention which then selects delegates to the state convention which then selects delegates to the national convention. Confused? This graphic spells it out. Needless to say, this is one screwed up system.