WHAT HAPPENS AT CONVENTION
Every four years, the Republican Party has a Convention to determine the Party Platform, vote on the rules to govern the Party, and to nominate candidates for President and Vice President.
On July 18, 2016, delegates will gather in Cleveland, Ohio for the Republican National Convention. Who are the delegates, what are the rules, and how does it all work? You will find all those answers and more here.
Delegates are selected and empowered at the grassroots level by their peers to represent their state or territory at the Convention. There are 2,472 delegates.
BECOMING THE NOMINEEA candidate must win the votes of a majority of delegates to secure the nomination. In 2016, the magic number is 1,237 (50% + 1 of the 2,472 Convention delegates). Most delegates will go to Convention “bound” to vote for a particular candidate, based on how their state or territory voted.
The rules of the Convention are unique to each Convention and voted upon by the delegates.
THE RNC’S ROLE
The RNC plays a purely administrative role at Convention, ensuring that the rules and processes are carried out in a transparent manner.