United States Presidential Election 2024: What is the purpose of national conventions? (Part 1)

A week after the Democratic National Convention roared across America’s (and our own) headlines, this edition of Nexus APAC Insights examines the history of national conventions and why they are significant.

What are national conventions?

National conventions are held every four years by the political parties that put up candidates for the presidential election. While the main national conventions are held by the Democratic and Republican parties, other parties such as the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and the Socialist Party have also held national conventions in the past.

The formal purpose of a national convention is to nominate the party’s candidate for the election and to adopt a statement of party principles, which is known as the ‘party platform’. The party platform is not binding on either the party or the candidate. This year’s national conventions are unique in that both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris received their parties’ nominations prior to the conventions. As such, proceedings were mostly ceremonial and used as an opportunity to garner national (and international) attention and support.

The origins of national conventions

National conventions have been traced back to 1808 when the Federalist Party held secret meetings to pick their candidates. However, national conventions in the form that we now recognise first emerged in 1831, when the Anti-Masonic Party met publicly in Baltimore, Maryland to select a presidential candidate who was agreeable to the whole party leadership.

Since 1936, the tradition has been that the party to which the sitting president belongs always hosts its convention second. This explains why this year’s Republican National Convention was held first from 15 to 18 July, and the Democratic National Convention was held over a month later. Since 1952, all national conventions of the major parties have been held in the months of July, August and September.

The 2024 Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 15 to 18 July. This year’s convention was significant because it began two days after the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a campaign event near Butler, Pennsylvania. Key moments from the convention include the official nomination of Senator JD Vance for Vice President, a speech from former President Trump on the theme of ‘unity’, and an endorsement of the former President by wrestling star Hulk Hogan.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention was held from 19 to 22 August in Chicago, Illinois. As Vice President Harris had already been selected as the party’s nominee through online voting between 1 and 5 August, proceedings were completely ceremonial. Key moments of the convention include speeches from President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Barack Obama, and the official nomination of Governor Tim Walz for Vice President.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – who many expect will be a central figure in the Democratic Party in the years to come – was one of the many high-profile Democrats who delivered a speech criticising former President Trump and emphasising the importance of helping the middle class. The convention concluded with a speech by Vice President Harris, where she formally accepted the party’s nomination for president.

What now?

Following the conclusion of the national conferences, it is expected that Vice President Harris and former President Trump will meet for their first and only debate on the 10 September, where both will have to prove to the American public why they should be elected as president.

Americans head to the ballot box on 5 November 2024.

Photo credit: Library of Congress, Washington DC