objectives:
- Describe the role of conventions in the presidential nominating process
- Evaluate the importance of presidential primaries
- Understand the caucus-convention process
- Outline the events that take place during a national convention
- Examine the characteristics that determine who is nominated as a presidential candidate.
vocabulary:
presidential primary: a election in which a party's voters choose state delegates to the national convention and/or express a preference for their party's presidential nomination
winner-take-all: contest where the candidate who wins gets all the delegates chosen at the primary
proportional representation: a system that gives a primary candidate proportion of delegates equal to their percentage of the vote
caucus: a closed meeting of party members who select delegates to a national convention
national convention: a quadrennial meeting where major parties select their presidential ticket
platform: a party's formal statement of principles
keynote address: the speech opening a national convention
winner-take-all: contest where the candidate who wins gets all the delegates chosen at the primary
proportional representation: a system that gives a primary candidate proportion of delegates equal to their percentage of the vote
caucus: a closed meeting of party members who select delegates to a national convention
national convention: a quadrennial meeting where major parties select their presidential ticket
platform: a party's formal statement of principles
keynote address: the speech opening a national convention
Roles of Convention:
National conventions are one of the few ways that parties are able to pick their presidential candidate. In 1832, both political parties chose to use national convention to nominate their parties presidential representative int he election and it has been that way since that election. The Consitution says nothing about the presidential nominations so both of the parties arrange the convention process. Along with organizing the presidential election and helping the parties choose their presidential candidate the national conventions also:
- apportion the number of delegates, which varies from state to state
- selects delegates for each states based on the number of votes each candidate receives
Presidential Primaries:
Presidential primaries vary from state to state. The primaries are an election in which the party's voters choose party delegates to participate in the national convention and/or express their preference towards certain presidential contenders. These presidential primaries help set the stage for the rest of the election process by figuring out who the people want to see as a potential President.
Caucuses:
Some states, instead of holding a presidential primary election, they will hold caucuses which is when the party's voters vote for delegates to attend district conventions. The voters of the parties will meet together and talk about who they would like to see as a delegate who would head to a local or district convention where delegates for a State convention are elected. Once the delegates make it to the State convention the party's voters will vote again to send the delegates to a national convention.
National Conventions Goals:
- Name the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates
- Bring all of the leading personalities together
- Adopt the party's formal platform
Characteristic for President Nomination:
Most people who are nominated for President share these similar traits:
- Political experience
- Protestant
- Come from large states
- Shown by media
- Pleasant and healthy appearance
- Well-developed speaking ability