Do Political Party Conventions matter?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
This year’s Political Party Conventions just ended. The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held in Chicago, IL; and the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC), in Milwaukee, WI. What percentage of the Democrats said they planned to view the Republican National Convention?
Describe the political party affiliation of the typical viewer of a political party convention.
In the past, the big conventions were gatherings where the party faithful hashed out who would be their nominee. But in the modern primary era, the candidates have (in almost every case) already been determined by the results of primaries and caucuses, and their nomination at the convention is merely a formality. So while delegates from around the country still gather to officialize both their nominee and their parties' policy platforms, the prime-time, televised speeches are essentially campaign events. According to the visual below, what has happened to political party convention viewership over the past few decades?
Based on your knowledge of American politics and the visual above* respond to the following claim: It probably won’t matter where either party holds its 2024 presidential nominating convention, who speaks, or what they say. All that matters is who watches the convention.
Identify the emoji in the visual above that you think is least representative of that city and explain which emoji you would put in its place and which emoji best represents the place where you live!
Some media scholars say that most Americans live in political echo chambers - Democrats watch liberal news sources and Democratic conventions. Republicans watch conservative news sources and Republican conventions. In other words, we live in little media bubbles where we basically just hear what we want to hear (this is known by the fancy political science therm as selective exposure), and don’t listen to many divergent opinions. Based on the visuals above and below, do you think Americans are living in echo chambers?
Why do we have national political party conventions, and what happens at national political conventions anyway?
Now that you have read, internalized, memorized Federalist No. 10, and have become a national expert on James Madison (163 centimeters tall - five foot four inches) and his feelings towards factions, explain what Madison (“Mr. Factions!”) would have thought about party conventions.
If you were the head of the Democratic National Party explain where you would hold the 2028 convention, and if you were the head of the Republican National Party explain where you would hold the 2028 convention. (Pro tip: you’re not).
Based on the visuals above and below*, make a claim about whether conventions actually make an electoral difference.
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Did you know that mere mortals like you can attend a national party convention?!?! Contact your favorite political party and ask them what you need to do to attend the 2028 national party convention. You might just be surprised by what you learn. Share their response in class or online.
Get Creative
Tweet the Democratic Party @DNC or the Republican Party @GOP and give them three good reasons to make your favorite city the site of their next national convention. Share their response in class.
Visual Extension*
Learning Extension
Listen to this insane Here and Now report. *Warning: Extremely Graphic language. The following NPR report may not be suitable for all listeners.