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What is a national party convention?

The convention is a meeting of party leaders and delegates who gather every four years to select the party's presidential and vice presidential nominees, establish party rules, develop a platform (on the issues), and organize and unite the party.

How long have the parties been having conventions?

Since 1832 the parties have been hosting conventions every four years. Prior to the 1830s, presidential nominees were selected by a few party leaders and members of Congress in backroom meetings called caucuses.

How do the parties pick a city for their conventions?

A year or two before the convention date, the national parties begin raising money and accepting proposals from prospective cities. The political parties select a city based on its ability to host a convention and the strategic importance of the state in the upcoming election. Being selected to host a convention offers the host city a lot of publicity and, because of the large number of people in attendance, an economic boost as well.

When are the conventions?

The conventions are generally four days in length and occur in July, August, or September. This year, because of the Summer Olympics in August, the Democrats will hold their convention the last week in August and the Republicans will gather during the first week in September.

Where are the 2008 conventions?

The Democrats will gather in Denver and the Republicans convention will be in St. Paul.

Who attends a convention?

The presidential nominee and his supporters, party leaders and delegates, and members of the press from around the world. There are anywhere from 2,000 to 4,500 delegates at each party convention, plus a few hundred alternate delegates. A few thousand others will attend the convention to see democracy in action or just to have fun. Plus, there are usually some protesters.

What happens at the convention?

Serious business occurs at the conventions. The delegates participate in the formal act of voting for the nominee and drafting the party's official platform on the issues. Historically, the vice presidential nominee is selected at the convention by the presidential nominee. Both nominees, their spouses, and party leaders and supporters give speeches that are covered by the media.

What else?

The conventions are also huge parties (pun intended!). Delegates, adorned in campaign buttons and hats that range from patriotic to outrageous, have been known to party hard. The temptations exist… from formals to live music to themed celebrations, drink s flow in parties hosted by corporations and lobbyists.

Are they still necessary?

Since 1972 the conventions have become largely ceremonial affairs. The suspense of the announcement of the nominee has been replaced by what are essentially scripted, four-day infomercials with a red, white, and blue balloon drop. But they still serve to unite the party, build support for the nominee, and iron out any discrepancies …

Is there any chance Barack Obama or John McCain would be replaced by a surprise nominee?

No. In recent years, the party and public know who will be the presidential nominee before the convention. But this has not always been the case. Historically, balloting for president occurred on the third day and the vote among delegates was often divided. There used to be real suspense regarding the selection of the nominees.

Did any surprise candidates end up winning the nomination?

Yes. Sometimes a compromise candidate emerged to win the party nomination, such as in 1860. Abraham Lincoln had wisely positioned himself as the second choice candidate for the supporters of all three likely nominees. During the haggling that occurred when none of the three top candidates secured the nomination, Lincoln emerged as the surprise winner. More recently, Warren G. Harding became the Republican nominee in 1920 after a deal was struck by 10 party insiders who met in a nearby hotel room.

Any memorable moments?

Plenty! Conventions used to feature serious debates on the main issues of the day. For instance, the Republican Conventions of 1856 and 1860 included debate on slavery and the Democrats were deeply divided over civil rights at the 1948 convention. Violence even erupted over the issue of the Vietnam War during the Democrat's 1968 convention.

CONVENTION TRIVIA

Did you know…

The first national party convention was held in September of 1831 by the Anti-Mason Party.

The first telecast of a national party convention occurred when an NBC affiliate covered the 1940 Republican Convention in Philadelphia.

The same city has hosted both the Democratic and Republican conventions several times. For instance, both parties held their conventions in Chicago in 1932, 1944, and 1952, in Philadelphia in 1948, and in Miami in 1972.

Most major cities have hosted conventions. But, some unlikely cities have hosted national conventions, including Harrisburg, Atlantic City, St. Paul, San Diego, and Detroit.

The same two nominees faced one another in back-to-back conventions. In 1952 and 1956, Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson squared off as the Republican and Democratic nominees, respectively.

The Democrats held their national convention in the same city from 1832 to 1852 (Baltimore).

John Davis did not secure the Democratic nomination in 1924 until the 103rd ballot.

The Whig Party also held their convention in Baltimore from 1844 to 1860 (after holding their first convention in Harrisburg in 1840).

In modern times, the record for serving as the party nominee at the most conventions is held by the Democrat, Franklin D. Roosevelt (four conventions). The runner-up is Richard Nixon, a Republican (three conventions).