By Adam Gerard
Opinion Editor
With the days of smoke-filled rooms and back door deals behind us, many political analysts believe that the days of party conventions are over. Yet the Democratic and Republican conventions are far from antiquated and remain crucial tools for both parties to express their platforms to the American voters.
Political conventions still represent the single opportunity for representatives of the major American political parties to convene and discuss the future of their parties. In a country where the two-party system towers over national, state and even local politics, the need for grassroots feedback in the parties remains a critical aspect of the American democracy that is absolutely necessary in modern times.
Voter turnout is incredibly important, and conventions serve the role of rallying party faith and encouraging voter registration. In fact, Google reported that after President Obama’s 2012 DNC speech, internet searches for “register to vote” doubled. This promotion of democratic engagement is only one reason among many why the conventions still serve an important role in today’s society.
Political conventions also exist to preserve grassroots politics on a national level. Delegates are often selected locally and have driving political ambition that can excite others. This system offers average American citizens the voice to shape their party’s platform and play a role in history by nominating their party’s candidates for President of the United States.
The benefits for the parties don’t end with exciting their base. Conventions are also used to springboard rising politicians into the limelight. In 2004, the Democratic Party gave the keynote spot to an unknown Senator from Illinois named Barack Obama who later became the President.
Every four years, the conventions serve as a chance for delegates from around the country to meet for a week full of speeches, entertainment, voting and, of course, nominating the parties’ candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. In the early days of the convention process, the nomination would be the result of backroom deals between powerful figures in each party. However, as the political process became more engaging and the media increased its attention to primaries, the nominee would often become apparent far before the party convention.
The lack of suspense left for the convention led to many critics referring to the DNC and the RNC as weeklong political infomercials spewing delusional rhetoric. Yet the formalities of the convention amount to far more than a weeklong political ad that many claim them to be. They stimulate patriotism, promote activism and offer a chance for average citizens to play a role in shaping the political party that they hope will represent their voice in Congress and the White House.
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