National ConventionsNational Conventions

Delegates, Platforms, & PlanksDelegates, Platforms, & Planks

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Delegates Delegates

• Review: How are Delegates Review: How are Delegates chosen?chosen?– PrimariesPrimaries– CaucusesCaucuses

SuperdelegatesSuperdelegates

• By definition, By definition, SuperdelegatesSuperdelegates are national party leaders are national party leaders who automatically get a who automatically get a delegate slot at the delegate slot at the Democratic National Party Democratic National Party ConventionConvention

• Who are they?Who are they?– Public office holdersPublic office holders– Party officialsParty officials

Why Superdelegates?Why Superdelegates?

• Designed to restore an Designed to restore an element of oversight by party element of oversight by party leaders and public office leaders and public office holdersholders

• Ensures participation of Ensures participation of those most familiar with the those most familiar with the candidatecandidate

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National Party National Party ConventionConvention

• By definition, a By definition, a National National Party ConventionParty Convention is the is the supreme power within each of supreme power within each of the parties.the parties.

• Meets every four yearsMeets every four years• Nominate Party President & Nominate Party President & Vice PresidentVice President

2008 Conventions2008 Conventions

• DemocraticDemocratic•Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado•August 25-28, 2008August 25-28, 2008

•Republican

•St. Paul, Minnesota

•September 1-4, 2008

The AgendaThe Agenda

• Day One: Day One: – Keynote speech Keynote speech

• Recalling party heroesRecalling party heroes• Condemning oppositionCondemning opposition• Highlights nominee’s strengthsHighlights nominee’s strengths

AgendaAgenda

• Day Two:Day Two:– Party Platform approved & Party Platform approved & confirmedconfirmed

What is a Platform?What is a Platform?

• A A Party Platform Party Platform is a is a political party’s statement political party’s statement of its goals and policies for of its goals and policies for the next four years. the next four years.

• Drafted prior to National Drafted prior to National Convention by a committeeConvention by a committee

What is a Platform?What is a Platform?

• If 20% of committee delegates If 20% of committee delegates disagree with platform, the disagree with platform, the minority may propose an minority may propose an alternative alternative plankplank to the to the convention floor for debate. convention floor for debate.

Party PlatformsParty Platforms

• 2008 Republican Platform2008 Republican Platform• 2008 Democratic Platform2008 Democratic Platform

For Example…For Example…

• Planks included in a party Planks included in a party platform:platform:– EducationEducation– VeteransVeterans– National SecurityNational Security– Agricultural PoliciesAgricultural Policies– Climate ChangeClimate Change

More Planks…More Planks…

– The EconomyThe Economy– EnergyEnergy– Health CareHealth Care– IraqIraq– ImmigrationImmigration– Tax ReformTax Reform

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AgendaAgenda

• Day ThreeDay Three– Formal NominationsFormal Nominations– Speeches given by well-known Speeches given by well-known candidate supporter, followed by candidate supporter, followed by subsequent speechessubsequent speeches

– Balloting begins, states announce Balloting begins, states announce resultsresults

– Nomination becomes officialNomination becomes official

AgendaAgenda

• Day FourDay Four– Vice-President chosen by roll-Vice-President chosen by roll-call votecall vote

– Acceptance speech givenAcceptance speech given– Grand Finale: Presidential Grand Finale: Presidential Candidate’s acceptance speechCandidate’s acceptance speech

Acceptance SpeechesAcceptance Speeches

Senator Senator Obama's Obama's Acceptance SpeechAcceptance Speech

Senator McCain's Acceptance Speech

DiscussionDiscussion

• What common characteristics What common characteristics did you notice in Obama and did you notice in Obama and McCain’s speeches?McCain’s speeches?

• Were there distinct Were there distinct differences?differences?– If so, what? If so, what?

Official SiteOfficial Site

• Democratic National Democratic National ConventionConvention

• Republican National Republican National ConventionConvention

• Go online to view schedule, Go online to view schedule, read speech transcripts, read speech transcripts, watch videos of speeches & watch videos of speeches & eventsevents