Choosing the Nation`s President Selecting the Candidates

Every four years, Americans participate in a unique and exciting ritual-selecting the nation's president and vice president. Beginning early in a presidential election year, people who would like to "run" for the office of president try to win delegates to their party's national political convention. Delegates are chosen from each state. Some are selected at state caucuses (local meetings of voters and party officials) and others by party conventions. But most are chosen by primary elections. Primaries give voters an opportunity to indicate whom they want to be their party's presidential candidate. In a primary election, a presidential candidate is running against other candidates in the same political party, competing for that state's delegate votes.

The summer before the election, each of the two major political parties-the Democrats and the Republicans-holds a national convention lasting about four days. At these conventions, delegates select the people who will be candidates for president and vice president. The number of delegates from each state is determined by its population and its support for that party in previous elections. The total number of delegates at a convention ranges from about 2,000 to about 4,000.

Convention business usually begins with the creation and acceptance of the party's platform. A platform is a general statement of the party's philosophy, positions, and goals on issues of national and international concern. A majority of the convention del­egates must vote in favor of the various planks of the platform in order for them to be accepted. (A plank is a statement on one subject.)

The next order of business is the nomination of prospective presidential candidates. A speaker nominates each nominee, telling that person's strengths and accomplish­ments. Each nominating speech is followed by a long, noisy demonstration. Bands play, and thousands of delegates wave flags and signs, sing, yell, and clap. When the convention quiets down, a seconding speech is given for each nominee. This is also fol­lowed by a noisy display of support.

After the nominations, the delegates get down to the serious work of choosing their party's presidential candidate. What qualities are delegates looking for in their candi­date? The most important qualification is the ability to win the election. In addition, del­egates consider a nominee's integrity, philosophy, and talent for leadership. Votes are taken alphabetically by state. At some conventions, one nominee gets the majority of delegate votes on the first roll call. At others, several roll calls may be necessary before one nominee wins the majority of votes. Sometimes, state delegations bargain with the major nominees. Delegates may agree to switch their votes in exchange for some polit­ical favor or governmental position. For example, an agreement might be made that, in exchange for a state's votes, the nominee will recommend a certain person to be the vice presidential candidate. Eventually, enough deals are made that one person receives a majority of the votes and becomes the party's presidential candidate.

In recent years, more and more states have held primary elections. As a result, it has become common for one candidate to win a majority of the delegates' votes during the primaries. In that event, the party's presidential candidate has already been chosen be­fore the convention even begins.

After the presidential candidate is selected, the vice presidential candidate must be chosen. Traditionally, the convention officially elects whomever the presidential candi­date wants as his running mate. It is customary (and good politics) for a party's presi­dential and vice presidential candidates to come from different parts of the country and to have somewhat different political views. That way, the team appeals to voters with different viewpoints and concerns. At the convention, the two candidates are formally nominated, elected as the party's candidates, and cheered greatly before and after they give their acceptance speeches. Finally, the convention adjourns (ends).

Check your comprehension.

What are the three major jobs of a national political convention?