168 PART Two • The PolITIcs of AmeRIcAn DemocRAcy
The most exciting political party event, staged
every four years, is the national convention. State
conventions also take place on a regular basis.
Surprising as it might seem, there are opportuni-
ties for the individual voter to become involved in
nominating delegates to a state or national conven-
tion, or even to become a delegate.Why Should You Care? How would you like
to exercise a small amount of real political power
yourself—power that goes beyond simply voting in
an election? You might be able to become a delegate
to a county, district, or even state party convention.
Many of these conventions nominate candidates for
various offices. For example, in Michigan, the state
party conventions nominate the candidates for the
Board of Regents of the state’s top three public uni-
versities. The regents set university policies, so
these are nominations in which students have an
obvious interest. In Michigan, if you are elected as a
party precinct delegate, you can attend your party’s
state convention.
In much of the country, there are more open-
ings for party precinct delegates than there are peo-
ple willing to serve. In such circumstances, almost
anyone can become a delegate by collecting a hand-
ful of signatures on a nominating petition or by
mounting a small-scale write-in campaign. You are
then eligible to take part in one of the most educa-
tional political experiences available to an ordinary
citizen. You will get a firsthand look at how political
persuasion takes place, how resolutions are writ-
ten and passed, and how candidates seek support
from their fellow party members.What Can You Do? When the parties choose
delegates for the national convention, the process
begins at the local level—either the congressional
district or the state legislative district. District del-
egates may be elected in party primary elections
or chosen in neighborhood or precinct caucuses. If
the delegates are elected in a primary, persons who
want to run for these positions must file petitions
with the board of elections. If you are interested in
committing yourself to a particular presidential can-
didate and running for the delegate position, check
with the local county committee or with the party’s
national committee about the rules you must follow.making a difference
you cAn Be A convenTIon DeleGATe
It is even easier to get involved in the grassroots
politics of presidential caucuses. In some states—Iowa
being the earliest and most famous one—delegates are
first nominated at the local precinct caucus. These cau-
cuses, in addition to being the focus of national media
attention in January or February, select delegates to the
county conventions who are pledged to specific presiden-
tial candidates. This is the first step toward the national
convention. At both the county caucus and the conven-
tion levels, both parties often try to find younger mem-
bers to fill some of the seats.
For further information about these opportuni-
ties (some states hold caucuses and state conventions
in every election year), contact the state party office
or your local state legislator. You can also contact the
national committees for information on how to become
a delegate. Use your favorite search engine to locate the
Republican National Committee by entering “rnc” or
the Democratic National Committee by typing in “dnc.”These delegates to the 2012 Democratic National
Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, cheer as Barack
Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for president.
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