A2 G&PUS Government and PoliticsNational Party Conventions

UNIT 3A: OUTLINE: KEY CONCEPTS

KEY CONCEPTS

Open, closed and invisible primariesThe caucus systemThe balanced ticketCandidate and issue centred campaignsMomentumSoft and hard moneyNegative campaigningInsider and outsider candidatesFixed termsSwing states

OUTLINE: KEY IDEAS

Answering questions on this topic requires knowledge of: The main characteristics of presidential and

congressional elections and campaigns.The main influences on their outcomes.Candidate selection and nomination

through the primary and caucus system and the role of the national nominating conventions

Debates concerning the workings and outcomes of the Electoral College and its impact on campaigns

OUTLINE: KEY IDEAS

Answering questions on this topic requires knowledge of: The significance of money as a factor in

electoral success.The impact of the media on campaigns and

candidatesDirect democracy at State level through the

use of referendumsInitiatives, propositions and recall elections,

and debates concerning their useComparisons with the UK electoral process to

illustrate arguments

National Party Conventions

Both parties (and some third parties) usually hold a National Party Convention during July or August of election year.

They usually last for four days.

In both 2008 and 2012 they held the conventions at the back end of August or early September.

The venue is decided at least a year in advance by each party’s National Committee.

National Party Conventions

The Conventions are attended by delegates, most of them are chosen in the primaries and caucuses.

The US and World’s media also turn up!

Each evening of a convention will have a theme and a prime-time speaker. Here is a flavour of Democrats in 2008

- ‘One Nation’ – Michelle Obama- ‘Renewing America’s Promise’ - Hillary Clinton- ‘Securing America’s Future’ – Joe Biden- ‘Change you can believe in’ – Barack Obama

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the party’s presidential candidate

In theory, the conventions choose the party’s presidential candidate in a roll-call vote, in which each state’s delegates announce which candidate they wish to vote for.

In the pre-reform days, delegates came to the convention and made up their minds in the convention hall.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the party’s presidential candidate

Now, the vast majority of delegates arrive at the convention as ‘committed delegates’ – committed, that is, to vote for a particular candidate in the first ballot if that candidate is still in the race.

As the number of committed delegates is known beforehand, the result is, these days, a foregone conclusion.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the party’s presidential candidate

To win the nomination, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the delegate votes.

In 2008 there were 4,418 delegates so Obama needed 2,210 to win.

The Republican Convention is always smaller. In 2008 there were 2,380 delegates so McCain needed 1,191 votes.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the party’s presidential candidate

It is more accurate to say that the Convention ‘confirms’ rather than chooses the candidate.

Not since the Republican convention of 1976 has the choice of presidential candidate been in any doubt at the opening of either party’s convention.

In that year Gerald Ford defeated Ronald Reagan by 1,187 votes to 1,070.

Had 60 delegates switched, Reagan would have won.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the party’s presidential candidate

If no candidate gains an absolute majority on the first ballot, balloting continues until one candidate does.

During these ballots, delegates become free agents, no longer committed to vote for one candidate.

In the 14 elections between 1900 and 1952 there were seven occasions when either one or both parties needed more than one ballot.

Since 1956 there have been no such occasions.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the vice-presidential candidate

Formally, the National Party Convention chooses the vice-presidential candidate, but, again, this function has been lost.

Not since 1956 has a convention chosen the vice-presidential candidate – or ‘running mate’, as they are called.

Nowadays, the running mate is chosen by the presidential candidate and confirmed by the convention.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Choosing the vice-presidential candidate

Traditionally, the vice-presidential candidate was announced on the third day.

But in 1984, Democrat Walter Mondale announced his choice of Geraldine Ferraro 4 days before the opening of his party’s convention.

Since then, the Democrats have always announced their candidate before the convention.

The Republicans have followed suit since 1996.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Deciding the party platform

The party platform is a document containing policies that the candidate intends to pursue if elected president.

It is put together by the Platform Committee under the direction of the party’s National Committee.

The Platform Committee holds hearings around the country during the first 6 months of the election year.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Deciding the party platform

In 2008, the Democrats held more than 1,600 ‘listening sessions’ in communities across all 50 states in which nearly 30,000 people from all walks of life participated.

The Republicans used their website to allow visitors to share their thoughts and participate in polls.

The National Committee then agrees to the draft platform which is then presented at the convention.

Formal Functions of the Convention

Deciding the party platform

There may be debates at the convention on various parts of the platform – known as ‘planks’.

More recently, parties have sought to avoid heated debates on policy issues at their conventions. Media portray this as a divided party.

Much of what is in the platform is mundane and expected although their can be differences.

Informal Functions of the Convention

Informal functions

Given that all three of the formal functions of the national party conventions are now questionable, it might appear that there is little point in holding them.

The importance of the conventions is in their informal, or hidden, functions.

Informal Functions of the Convention

Informal functions

These include:- Promoting Party Unity- Enthusing the party faithful- Enthusing the ordinary voters

In three groups, use the extract to discover then present to the group why these functions are important.

Discussion Question

How important are modern day National Conventions?