NP Mock Political Convention
January 5th and 6th
(Tues / Wed)
What is a political Convention?
• Week-long meeting of party delegates from
around the country chosen by each states’
party leaders.
• Democratic Convention – Week of July 25th in
Philadelphia
• Republican Convention – Week of July 18 in
Cleveland
What do they do at the conventions?
• Platform creation – official list (planks) of
what the party stands for. NP - DAY 1
What do they do at the conventions?
• Officially nominate their candidate ( and
running mate) on the last day NP - DAY 2
What do they do at the conventions?
• Officially nominate their candidate ( and
running mate) on the last day NP - DAY 2
• The politics …
– “Favorite sons”
– “What are you going to do for us?”
What do they do at the conventions?
• Present their party to America
Celebrities
future candidates
What do they do at the conventions?
• Fire up their members! (votes, $, work)
Why have it at the end of summer?
• Candidates have had time to decide to
run, raise money, gauge their support
• State primaries are finished
Why have it at the end of summer?
• Candidates have had time to decide to
run, raise money, gauge their support
• State primaries are finished
• Gives the party two whole months to
campaign & raise money before the
national election in November
What is the timeline of this
presidential election process?
• Summer, 2015 – candidates officially announce
that they are running (strategy)
• Fall, 2015 – candidates travel around to get their
message out and raise money. Parties also
organize debates. Candidates drop
• Winter/Spring, 2016 – states have their primaries
• July, 2016 – Conventions
• Aug, Sept, Oct, 2016 – Campaigns and Debates
• Nov. 8, 2016 – Presidential election