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The Democrats and Republicans hold huge national conventions every four years, and all of the states participate. This event takes place in the summer before the presidential election. Representing the state’s voters, each state party sends delegates to vote for the candidate preferred in their state. Each party will have chosen its final candidates for president and vice president when the conventions end. Each party also writes its platform at the conventions. “Platform” is a plan of action for the government in the next four years. The platform lists the ideas that the party will “stand” on. It also outlines the party position on the important problems that face the nation. Slavery was the biggest issue when Abraham Lincoln was a candidate. The Vietnam War was on everyone’s mind in the 1960s and 1970s. Candidates and parties, more recently, have had to show where they stand on health-care reform, the economy and budget, and the environment.
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