Glossary

“At-Large” Delegates

These pledged delegates are elected as state-wide delegates to represent presidential candidates in proportion to the state-wide vote the candidate received in the primary or caucus. These are the final group of delegates to be elected in every state.

Bonus Delegates

Additional delegates awarded as an incentive to states scheduling their primaries and caucuses later in the nominating process. At this time, 10 states and territories that held primaries and caucuses after April 1, 2008 have been awarded bonus delegates for staying late in the calendar. Those states and territories are: Pennsylvania, Guam, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.

Credentials Committee

The Credentials Committee determines and resolves disputes concerning the recognition and seating of delegates and alternates to the Convention. (It does not determine the distribution of passes for admission to the Convention Hall.) Its recommendations are presented in a report voted on by the delegates as the first item of business at the Convention.

“District-Level” Delegates

A majority of a state’s delegates are elected from local districts (usually congressional districts). Each district-level delegate must support a presidential candidate (or no specific candidate which is known as “uncommitted”). They are therefore considered to be pledged delegates. This is the first category of delegates to be selected in each state.

Platform

The national platform is an official statement of the Party’s position on a wide variety of issues. Each issue category included in the platform is a “plank.” A new platform is adopted every four years at the Democratic National Convention.

Platform Committee

The Platform Committee prepares a document delineating the Party’s position on a variety of issues. This document is the Party’s proposed “Platform” and is presented in a report voted on by the Convention.

Pledged delegates

Delegates awarded proportionally to candidates based on the results of a primary or caucus. In all, 3,253 pledged delegates are up for grabs in primaries and caucuses. Pledged delegates are elected at the congressional district level and state-wide. Pledged delegates make up approximately 80% of the delegates at the Convention.

“Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official”(PLEO) Delegates

These pledged delegates are elected as state-wide delegates in proportion to the state-wide vote. These delegate positions are reserved for Democratic Party leaders and elected officials who are supporters of the presidential candidates. Individuals eligible for these delegate positions include: big-city mayors, state-wide elected officials, state legislative leaders, state legislators and other state, county and local Party leaders and elected officials.

Rules Committee

The Rules Committee recommends the procedural rules of the Convention, the agenda, the officers of the Convention and other matters not covered by the other committees. Its recommendations are presented in a report voted on during the first session of the Convention.

Super Delegates

Please see Unpledged Delegates.

Unpledged Delegates

About 19% of the delegates at the Convention are “unpledged.” The media often refers to these delegates as the “super delegates.” Unpledged delegates were created by the Party in 1982 for the 1984 Convention as a way to more effectively bring elected official and Party leader participation back into the Convention. Unpledged delegates serve by virtue of an elected official or position of party leadership, rather than their presidential preference.