The National Party Conventions
Function, History, and Role of the Delegates
National party conventions mark the turning point in the presidential campaign from the primary season to the general election. Every four years, delegates from State political parties gather at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to nominate their party’s choice for President and Vice President. In 2000, there were about 2,100 delegates to the Republican Convention, held in Philadelphia from July 31 through August 3, and 4,300 delegates to the Democratic Convention, held in Los Angeles from August 14 through 17.Purposes of ConventionsThe conventions serve several important official and unofficial purposes:They ratify the choice for presidential nominee that the voters…
