What is a "Super Delegate"?

Super Delegates are delegates to a Presidential nominating convention who are not bound by the decisions of party primaries or caucuses. The Super Delegates are elected officeholders and party officials. They are sometimes referred to as "unpledged delegates," but some unpledged delegates are not Super Delegates.

Super Delegates were first appointed in the 70s, after control of the nomination process in the Democratic Party effectively moved out of the hands of party officials into the primary and caucus process. The aim was to grant some say in the process to people who had been playing roles in the party before the election year.