This is the view from where the Oklahoma Alternate Delegates sit, when they’re not using their Delegate’s pass to sit on the floor (traditionally, the Delegates and Alternates swap passes back and forth).

The Republican National Convention

It also, however, serves as a forum for adoption of the party’s platform and rules to govern party functions, like the next presidential primary.  Conventions are also one of the few times that the entire Republican Party – elected officials, activists, lobbyists, and pundits – come together in one place (the only other occasion would probably be presidential inaugurals).  This then becomes an occasion to party – 1,000 times over.  Conventions in the modern era have largely become a series of parties, interrupted by speeches.

That section in between the parties used to be a lot more dramatic.  Both political party conventions have slowly evolved into elaborate Broadway shows for Political Science majors, but not so long ago, before voters got more of a say in the matter, conventions were drama-filled meetings that lacked the pre-ordained conclusions we expect today.  1976 was the last convention where the nomination was still in doubt.

 The first RNC (not to be confused with the Republican National Committee) was held in 1856.

The RNC has four major committees - Permanent Organization, Credentials, Rules and Platform.

U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner is the permanent chair of the 2008 RNC (sort of an honorary role), and Maria Cino has served as the President and CEO of the Committee on Organization.  In modern times, once a candidate secures the nomination, it becomes his show, and that’s been the case here.  Everything is geared towards John McCain. 

The Convention starts Monday (Labor Day), with a long session starting in the afternoon, followed by three nights of sessions culminating with the acceptance speech of the nominee, John McCain, Thursday night.  Networks like C-SPAN will show gavel-to-gavel coverage, while networks like MSNBC will cover a few minutes here and there when they’re not showing replays of Keith Olbermann sobbing at Mile High Stadium.