WANNA GO TO DENVER

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WANNA GO TO DENVER?
The Convention System
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Pledged Delegates and Alternates
Unpledged Delegates
Democratic President and Vice President
First Determining Step
Unpledged Party Leader Elected Official
Delegate Selection Process
Primary System
Caucus System
Democratic Members of Congress
District Level Delegate Alternate Selection
Process
Automatic by virtue of Public or Party office
Democratic Governors
Caucus meetings (often multi-tier process)
Allocated based on Caucus Participants
Two-part Primary
Allocated based on District Primary results
Post-Primary Caucus
Pre-Primary Caucus
DNC Members
Unpledged Add-on Delegate Selection Process
Distinguished Former Party Leaders
District-Level Delegates and Alternates
Selected by same body used to select statewide
delegates
Add-on Unpledged Delegates
Statewide Delegate Alternate Selection Process
State Convention and/or Caucus
States National Convention Delegation
Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official
Delegates
State Conv.
State Cmte.
District Level Delegates
Allocated based on Caucus Participants
At-Large Delegates and Alternates
Allocated based on statewide primary results
Steps in the Democratic Presidential Nominating
Process
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The Convention System The Basics
For the 2008 Convention, there will be
approximately

• 4,382 total delegates
• 3,512 pledged
• 850 unpledged
• 605 alternates
• Texas will have 228 Delegates with 32 Alternates

2,182 Delegate votes needed to win nomination
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The Convention System The Basics
For El Paso County (SD29 and SD19)We will have

• 2190 Delegates to the County Convention
• 182 Delegates to the State Convention175 from
  SD29, 7 from SD19
• Elect 3 Delegates to the National Convention
• It is determined how well we vote

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The Convention System The Purpose of the
Convention
Why do we have conventions?
1. We elect party officials
2. Vote for the party platformand resolutions
3. Build momentum for the Candidate and Party
4. We formally nominate the2008 Presidential
Candidate
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The Convention System The Levels of the
Convention
There Are Four Levels
Precinct Convention
County Convention
State Convention
National Convention
Note Only the Precinct, County, and State
Conventions occur every two years, while the
National Conventions occur every four years
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The Convention System Participation in the
Convention
There Is One Basic Rule
You Must Vote in the Primary!
If you dont attend your precinct convention,
you can still be a delegate to any of the
conventions.
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The Convention System The Primary Convention
It All Starts on March 4th at 715 PM
Every Voting Precinct Location will have
Convention Packet to host a Precinct Convention
The Precinct Chair has priority to start the
convention, however, anyone who voted in the
primary can
The Precinct Chair will call the convention,
elect a Convention Chair and Secretary
The Convention will elect delegates and
alternates to the County Convention (1 delegate
equals 15 votes for Chris Bell from the Pct)
The Convention will then vote on resolutions to
pass to the County Convention
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The Convention System The County Convention
Next Step is on March 29, 2007
The County Convention will have four committees
that will have business to be approved by the
delegates
Rules to vote on convention rules that will be
followed
Resolutions to vote on resolutions on issues and
items that will be passed to the state convention
Credentials to accept and certify the delegates
who were elected from the precinct convention and
allow any additional delegates to the convention
or hear any challenges
Nominations Will call for nominations for
delegates to the State Convention
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The Convention System The County Convention
Main Procedures at a Glance
The County Convention will elect a Convention
Chair and Secretary to start
Then, the County Convention will accept the
Credentials Committee report and approve
delegates
Following that, the County Convention will move
to nominate delegates to the State Convention
After that, the convention will vote on
resolutions
Finally, the convention will approve its
delegates and alternates to the State Convention
and elect a delegation chair
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The Convention System The County Convention
How to become a Delegate to the State Convention
Each Precinct (or grouping of precincts) will
have a set number of delegates they can elect
among themselves (1 delegate equals 180 votes
for Chris Bell from that Precinct)
Your Delegation can elect you to represent their
precinct
If not, you can be nominated to be elected
at-large
In presidential years, you have to declare a
candidate, and depending on the percentage
between candidate A, B, or C, the nomination
committee must take that into account for fair
representation
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The Convention System The State Convention

Austin Texas, June 5-7, 2008
Similar to the County Convention, the State
Convention will nominate delegates, approve the
platform and resolutions, and have committees
Three major differences
You also elect members to the DNC in presidential
years
You also elect members to the State Democratic
Party
There are a number of caucuses and groups you can
join and meet during the conventions
And a lot of partying too!
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The Convention System The State Convention

Main Action our SD Caucus
Each Senatorial District Caucus will meet to do
the following
Nominate people to sit at committees
Approve any last minute delegates or corrections
Elect a male and a female to the State Democratic
Executive Committee
And Since this is a Presidential Year
Elect 3 Delegates to the National Convention
(the gender will be determined later)
Elect a Presidential Elector to the Electoral
College
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The Convention System Becoming a Delegate

Four Hints on Becoming a National Delegate

• Get A Copy of Texass Delegate Selection Plan
• Understand The Process
• Work closely with a presidential campaign
• 4. Organize your campaign

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The Convention System Becoming a Delegate

How To Be One Of The 228

• Get Elected Through our SD Caucus
• Apply to be for an At Large
• Remember to Apply with the State Party April 21
  May 21 to be considered as a delegate

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The Convention System Types of Delegates

• Unpledged Delegates 35 In Texas
• Media calls them superdelegates
• 850 unpledged delegates but numbers could
  change
• Serve by virtue of the Party office they hold
  not based on presidential preference

• Includes
• DNC Members
• Democratic Members of Congress
• Democratic Governors
• Distinguished Party Leaders

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The Convention System Types of Delegates

• Pledged Delegates
• Majority of a states delegation
• Allocated to each state based on population and
  Dem voting strength
• Awarded proportionately to presidential
  candidates based on the results of a primary or
  caucus

• 3 types of Pledged Delegates
• District Level - 126
• Pledged Party Leader and Elected Officials
  (PLEOs) 25
• At-Large - 42

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The Convention System Pledged Delegates

Pledged PLEO Delegates

• Only Democrats who are eligible for these
  positions
• - Big city mayors and statewide elected
  officials
• - State legislative leaders and state
  legislators
• - Other state and local elected officials and
  Party leaders
• Elected by State Convention, State Party
  Committee, or the District Level delegates

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The Convention System Pledged Delegates

At-Large Delegates

• Last group of a states delegates to be elected
• Used to ensure equal division of states
  delegation
• Used to help reflect the states Democratic
  constituencies
• Any Democrat may run for At-Large delegate
• Elected by State Convention, Nominated by through
  Nominations Committee

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The Convention System Becoming a Delegate

If Im Not Elected, How Can I Still Go?
There are a number of ways to still be a delegate
Become a Page
Volunteer at the convention
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See You in Denver!
Questions? Comments?