BlogChapter One
Road to the Convention
WHAT’S NEW IN THE RULES & CALL
The Party’s 2008 Delegate Selection Rules and the 2008 Call for the Convention contained a number of significant changes from prior nominating cycles.
Primary/Caucus Calendar
The DNC instituted a change to the Rules that governs the timing of presidential primaries and caucuses. In December 2005, the Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling issued a series of recommendations for the scheduling of primaries and caucuses for the 2008 nominating process. In January 2006, DNC Chairman Dean asked the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) to consider the Commission’s recommendations for inclusion in the 2008 Rules.
Ultimately, the RBC recommended and the DNC approved that Iowa and New Hampshire retain their respective first-in-the-nation caucus and primary positions. Additionally, in an effort to broaden participation early in the nominating process, the Party selected the states of Nevada and South Carolina to hold early pre-window contests following Iowa and New Hampshire. The Party believed that Nevada and South Carolina, along with Iowa and New Hampshire, would help ensure that the early contests are fully representative of the Party’s rich racial, geographic and economic diversity.
Inclusion Programs
The 2008 Rules also contained new provisions for groups that may be under-represented in Party affairs. Under these new provisions, state Democratic Parties were required to adopt and implement Inclusion Programs in order for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and for people with disabilities to achieve their full participation in the delegate selection process.
Bonus Delegates
As part of the Call for the Convention, the Party also implemented a recommendation made by the Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling to establish an incentive system based on bonus delegates for states to schedule 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.
When the 45th Democratic National Convention is called to order on Monday, August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado, it will be the culmination of more than 24 months of formal planning by the Democratic Party to structure a nominating cycle and nominating Convention that represents the Party’s principles of openness, fairness and diversity.
These formal planning efforts occur on two fronts. The first is the written codification of rules and provisions to guide the selection of delegates and alternates by the national and state Democratic Parties to the National Convention. The second is the logistical and operational planning efforts by the Party to select a Convention host city and to produce a Convention that will allow Denver and the Party to shine before an international audience.
The first of these two areas were completed with the Democratic National Committee’s approval of Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 National Convention and the issuance of the Call for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
- The 2008 Delegate Selection Rules were adopted by the DNC in August 2006 and govern the 2008 nominating process, including the development and implementation of a delegate selection plan by each State and Territorial Party. The Rules provide the overall structure each State Party will use to design a system that ensures an open, inclusive and fair process for Democratic presidential candidates and voters and which will promote the selection of the strongest possible nominee for the general election. The Rules detail the key provisions on participation, affirmative action and inclusion, timing, and the fair reflection of presidential preferences that guide the selection of delegates and alternates by all 56 state and territorial Democratic Parties.
- The Call for the Convention was issued by the DNC in February 2007 and contains the number of delegates and alternates assigned to each state, the temporary rules of how the Convention will conduct its formal business, and the ratification of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc. (the “DNCC”)-- the official arm of the Democratic National Committee responsible for planning and organizing the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver.
The second of these planning efforts was initiated in February 2006, when the DNC issued its “Request For Proposals” and invited potential host cities to submit bids. Along with New York City and Minneapolis, the City of Denver submitted a detailed proposal of how it was best-suited to host the Convention. In January 2007, citing a strong bid and growing Democratic gains in the Rocky Mountain West, DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean announced that Denver was selected as the host city of the Party’s 2008 National Convention -- and planning for this event was soon underway.
In April 2007, Governor Dean named Leah D. Daughtry CEO of the DNCC and announced the members of the senior leadership team. After an initial period of brainstorming and assessment, the team opened its headquarters in Denver in July, a move that set the real operational wheels in motion. From the assignment of delegation hotels to key strides in transportation planning to naming a strong pair of executive producers to build the programmatic framework, the DNCC has been on pace or even ahead of schedule on all fronts.
Timeline
December 2005: Recommendations for Scheduling Issued
The Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling issues a series of recommendations for the scheduling of primaries and caucuses for the 2008 nominating process.
January 2006: RBC Considers Recommendations
DNC Chairman Dean asks the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) to consider the Commission’s recommendations for inclusion in the 2008 Rules.
February 2006: DNC Issues “Request For Proposals”
The DNC invited potential host cities to submit bids. Along with New York City and Minneapolis, the City of Denver submitted a detailed proposal of how it was best-suited to host the Convention.
August 2006: The 2008 Delegate Selection Rules are adopted by the DNC
The Rules provide the overall structure each State Party will use to design a system that ensures an open, inclusive and fair process for Democratic presidential candidates and voters and which will promote the selection of the strongest possible nominee for the general election. The Rules detail the key provisions on participation, affirmative action and inclusion, timing, and the fair reflection of presidential preferences that guide the selection of delegates and alternates by all 56 state and territorial Democratic Parties.
January 2007: Denver Announced as Host City
Citing a strong bid and growing Democratic gains in the Rocky Mountain West, DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean announces that Denver will be the host city of the Party’s 2008 National Convention. Click here to read more.
February 2007: DNC Issues The Call for the Convention
The Call contains the number of delegates and alternates assigned to each state, the temporary rules of how the Convention will conduct its formal business, and the ratification of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc. (the “DNCC”) -- the official arm of the Democratic National Committee responsible for planning and organizing the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver.
April 2007: Leah Daughtry Named Convention CEO
Governor Dean named Leah D. Daughtry CEO of the DNCC and announced the members of the senior leadership team. Click here to read more.
July 2007: DNCC Opens Headquarters in Denver
The Democratic National Convention Committee officially opens its offices in Denver. The office space at Civic Center Plaza serves as headquarters for DNCC staff during the lead-up to the Convention. Click here to read more.
October 2007: DNCC Names Executive Producers for
2008 Convention
DNCC announces that Emmy Award winning producer Ricky Kirshner and long-time Democratic Party strategist Mark Squier will serve as Executive Producers for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Click here to read more.
November 2007: Delegation Hotel Assignments Announced
The DNCC announces the list of area hotels selected to house some 5,000 delegates during Convention week. Delegations are assigned to 27 hotels in one of three clusters – Downtown, Stapleton and the Denver Tech Center – all within 20 minutes of the Pepsi Center. Click here to read more.
January 2008: DNC Elects Standing Committee Leadership
The Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) unanimously elects DNC Chairman Howard Dean's nominations for the Chairs of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Standing Committees that are responsible for reviewing Convention business and formulating recommendations for consideration by Convention delegates. Click here to read more.
April 2008: Speaker Pelosi Announces Green Delegate Challenge
As part of an ongoing effort to make the 2008 Democratic National Convention the most environmentally-sustainable Democratic Convention in history, House Speaker and Permanent Convention Chair Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Convention organizers announce the "Green Delegate Challenge," offering special rewards for the delegation or delegations that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint from attending the Convention. Click here to read more.
Monday, August 25, 2008: The 2008 Democratic National Convention
The 45th Democratic National Convention is called to order in Denver, Colorado.