NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE. In the United States the National Convention is the political agency of the major parties which nominates the party candidates for president and vice president, adopts the platform, and performs other party functions. The first national nominating convention in the United States was that of the old Federalist Party which met in New York in Sept., 1812, and endorsed for the presidency De Witt Clinton, the candidate of the peace Republicans. This gathering, however, had no influence on the displacement of the congressional nomi nating caucus by the national convention. The Anti-Masonic Party met in national convention at Baltimore in Sept., 1831. This convention was composed of 112 delegates for 13 States and adopted "An Address to the People of the United States." The National Republican or Whig Party followed with a convention at Baltimore in December of the same year, with each State entitled to a delegation the size of the electoral vote of the State. A sys tem of State and local correspondence committees was authorized. The Democratic Party held its first national convention in Balti more in May, 1832, for the purpose of nominating Martin Van Buren for vice president, as the running mate to President Jack son. Since then the national convention has been the recognized method of selecting presidential and vice presidential candidates.
While the number of delegates in the early conventions fluctu ated, ordinarily each State was limited to a vote equal to its electoral college strength. Eventually twice as many delegates were sent as there were electors, and finally each delegate was given an entire vote. The Democratic Party now allows twice as many delegates to each State as there are presidential electors with six each to Alaska, the Canal Zone, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Philippine islands and Porto Rico and two to the Virgin islands, making a total of for the convention of 1928.
The Republicans formerly had a similar representation, but this was reduced in 1913 in order to lessen the influence of delegates from the normally Democratic States of the South, and again changed in 1921. The Republicans now allow four delegates from each State at large, with two additional where a representative in Congress is chosen from the State at large. In addition, the Re publicans allow three more from each State at large where a majority of the electoral vote of the State went to the party at the preceding presidential election. Each congressional district is allowed one delegate, and an additional delegate from each dis trict casting 10,000 votes for the Republican electoral ticket at the last presidential election or the same number of votes for the party candidate for representative in Congress at the last con gressional election. Two delegates each are chosen by Alaska, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Philippine islands and Porto Rico. There were 1,089 delegates in the Republican convention of 1928. There are as many alternates as delegates who vote in the
absence of the delegates.
In the December or January preceding the convention, the national committee of each party meets in Washington and issues the call for the next national convention At this time the allot ment of delegates is made and the State committees are instructed as to how they are to be chosen. A convention city also is selected, giving consideration to auditorium facilities, hotel accom modations, financial donations and political benefits. The conven tion delegates are elected by State and district conventions and under the terms of presidential primary laws, according to State statutes and party rules and by State party committees. They are either instructed as to presidential preference or are sent unin structed; some are instructed as to vice president. Prior to the convening of the convention, usually in June or July, the national committee meets to make final arrangements for the convention. A temporary roll of convention delegates is made and a temporary organization is suggested for the convention.
The chairman of the national committee calls the convention together and the first question is on temporary organization. After temporary organization has been effected, the temporary chair man makes a "key-note" speech sounding the campaign issues. Then the committees on rules and procedure, credentials, perma nent organization, and platform and resolutions are appointed, each delegation having one member on each committee.
After the adoption of rules and the report on credentials, a permanent organization is effected. The permanent chairman also speaks in outline of the campaign issues. The convention then pro ceeds to nominate candidates and adopt a platform. Nominations for president are made by calling the roll of delegations. Second ing speeches often are made. A majority vote is necessary to nominate in the Republican convention while the Democrats re quire two-thirds. After the candidate for president is nominated, a choice for vice president is made along the same procedure. A platform is adopted either before, during or after the nominations. Committees on notification of the two candidates are named and the convention adjourns after authorizing the national committee to fill any vacancies on the ticket.
The national committee, composed of a man and woman from each State and territory, assumes office upon adjournment of the convention, the members being selected by the delegations or by State conventions or primaries if so authorized by State stat utes or party rules or by State conventions See C. E. Merriam, The American Party System (1922) ; R. C. Brooks, Political Parties and Electoral Problems (1927) ; E. M. Sait, American Parties and Elections (1927) ; H. R. Bruce, American Parties and Politics (1927) ; Stuart Lewis, Party Principles and Practical Poli tics (1928) , and Readings in Party Principles and Practical Politics (1928) . (5. LE.)