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Introduction Election Day Voting Election of the President Candidates Political Parties Primary Election National Conventions National Conventions - An Inside View Candidates at the Convention The Campaign Polling Places The Electoral College The Electoral Map The Inauguration

  

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Books & Reading

Books & Reading

How does one become a delegate at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions?

Why are national political conventions held?

What city has hosted the most national conventions?


How Political Conventions Work

 

Primary Election Political Parties Election Day Voting Election of the President Candidates National Conventions National Conventions - An Inside View Candidates at the Convention The Campaign Polling Places The Electoral College The Electoral Map The Inauguration

 
National Conventions - An Inside View


Uncle Sam, the word spy, wants you to take a minute and test your knowledge.

Match the word(s) in the left-hand column to complete the questions or statements in the right-hand column. Check your answers.

Delegates A. A public statement of the principals on which a person or group, especially a political party, takes a stand.
Keynote B. A speech at a political convention that presents important issues, principals, and policies.
nominated C. A person designated to act for or represent another or others at a conference or political convention.
Platform D. The candidate is formally ________ at the national convention.

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In 1948, CBS first televised both party conventions. Since there were fewer than half a million TV sets in the United States at that time, coverage was limited to the Northeast region.

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Projects You Can Do

Think about different styles of music and the emotions those styles evoke. Read the CNNfyi article "They're playing the Democrats' songs." Answer the following questions:

Why do Democratic National Convention planners see music as a kind of audio plank in the party platform? What types of music is played? Why do they use a diverse range of music? Why might it be important for the Democratic planners to know the political affiliation of the artists whose songs are used?

Name a few songs that you think could bring tears to someone's eyes or cause someone to jump up and applaud. Which emotions are aroused by the musical selections chosen? Do you think that the types of music selected for the convention are a statement of how inclusive the party is of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures? Why or why not? Do you think that the ages and backgrounds of U.S. voters are included in these selections? Which selections or types of music would you add or remove?

What are some of the famous songs that planners wanted to use for their opening night? Who wrote the selections? Why are these selections significant?

Research Democratic and Republican Web sites to get ideas about the parties' political platforms. Find out the focus of the parties' platforms.

Find the lyrics to a song performed live at a past Democratic or Republican convention. Rewrite the song to reflect either the Democratic or Republican political positions at that time.

 

Awards

 

The Dirksen Congressional CenterCopyright 2008