Here Are Ins, Outs of U.S. Party Gatherings

Beginning of article

Byline: Dennis R. Maher

Every four years, the Democrat and Republican parties meet and select candidates to run for president and vice president of the United States. These late summer meetings every four years are called the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Selecting candidates for the highest office in the land is one of two primary responsibilities of the convention. The second is developing a party platform. The people who attend the conventions are called delegates.

Conventions have become a regular fixture in American history since the 1830s. Prior to the 1830s, selection of party candidates was done by caucus. A caucus is a private meeting of the party leaders - better known as backroom politics. It was Andrew Jackson who demanded …