EXPLANATOR
Conventions are where American political parties officially choose their presidential candidates. But how do they work?
One by one, states across the United States hold primaries and caucuses in the run-up to a presidential election, allowing voters to weigh in on their favorite candidates from the major parties.
But those statewide votes ultimately culminate in a single event: the party convention.
It is at these conventions that the Democratic and Republican parties generally confirm their respective presidential candidates, based on the results of the primaries and caucuses.
Last month, Donald Trump was officially named the Republican candidate at a convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now it is the turn of the Democrats, who will meet next week in Chicago, Illinois, to hold their convention.
The meeting concludes on August 22, when Kamala Harris will take the stage to rally Democrats in support of her campaign for the White House.
So how do national conventions work?
Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, described the conventions as “the final word” in the presidential nominating process.
“The legal authority to select the party’s nominee rests with the convention, not with primary voters.”
Each convention includes a number of procedural votes, including the event's rules and the party platform, but the main event is undoubtedly the presidential nomination.
The nomination is confirmed on what is called a “slate of nominees,” where each state announces from the convention floor how many delegates it will award to the nominees.
Delegates are typically assigned to vote for a candidate based on the results of their state's primary or caucus. However, a certain number of delegates are unpledged, meaning they can cast their vote however they want.
If a candidate receives a majority of delegates, he or she wins the nomination.
In some election years, including 2024, this process is largely considered ceremonial because potential candidates are known even before the conventions are held.
Harris was confirmed as the Democratic candidate after winning an early virtual vote. However, a “ceremonial” vote will be held at the convention in Chicago.
To put it another way: Party conventions They involve many procedures and ceremonies, but they typically mark the final step in the presidential nomination process of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Indeed, conventions are an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to unite around their respective proposals and generate enthusiasm before an election.
Historically, presidential candidates have also announced their vice presidential picks at party conventions, adding to the hype.
However, party conventions did not always play such a prominent role in presidential elections.
Previously, US presidential candidates were chosen by their respective parties behind closed doors.
That changed in the 1830s, when both Republicans and Democrats began holding conventions to decide who would seek the presidency.
Those early conventions were different from the ones we know today: states did not hold primaries or caucuses at many early conventions, meaning that candidates were chosen by key members of each party rather than as a result of popular votes.
