After the primaries, each party holds a national convention. Each state is represented by delegates.The main purpose of a national party convention is to unify party members behind the party's platform and to nominate candidates for president and vice president.

At each convention, After a credentials committee seats the delegates, a permanent chairman is elected. The convention then votes on a platform, drawn up by the platform committee.

By the third or fourth day, presidential nominations begin. The chairman calls the roll of states alphabetically. A state may place a candidate in nomination or yield to another state.

Voting proceeds again by an alphabetical roll call of the states after all nominations have been made and seconded. A simple majority is required in each party, although this may involve many ballots. The process of awarding the delegates is quite complicated. In most cases, delegates cast their vote for the candidate that their state voted for in their primary, but they are not required to. The candidate who has majority support amongst the delegates at the national convention wins the party's backing for the presidential nomination.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Delegates Every state divides itself into smaller territories known as districts.Political parties situate themselves in every district in America.These smaller groups elect officials known as delegates to represent the district during a national convention. Platform A political party forms a platform to showcase the issues that they feel the American people should care most about. Platforms tend to highlight the policies and beliefs of those candidates who win or can substantially prove that they have a large following. Majority A majority vote means to retain at least 51% of the votes counted. Plurality This occurs when there is not a clear majority winner. The winner is chosen through percentages of the popular vote.