d
Michigan passed such primary laws prior to the election of 1912.
Pennsylvania had a modified primary law, and in a number of other
States there were voluntary primaries.

Election of Delegates to the National Conventions.--The
National conventions of the Republican and the Democratic parties
are made up of twice as many delegates from the different States as
these States have representatives and senators in Congress.

The National Convention.--The National convention is held in
some leading city during the month of June or July of the year in
which a President is to be elected. A few days before the time set
for the convention, the delegates, together with many thousands of
politicians and sight-seers, flock to that city. Headquarters are
established and delegates are interviewed on behalf of the
different candidates. On the day appointed, the convention is
called to order by the chairman of the National committee, under
whose auspices the convention is to be held. A temporary chairman
is elected, and clerks and secretaries are appointed. Committees
are also appointed, the most important being those on credentials
and on resolutions. Each State delegation selects one of its
members for each of the committees. In the next session, a
permanent chairman is usually selected, and the committee on
resolutions presents its report, which sets forth the platform
embodying party doctrines and principles. Nominations are then in
order. The roll of States is called, and the various delegations
place before the convention the favorite of their State. A State
often waives its privilege in behalf of some other State which has
a candidate to present. Again the clerk calls the roll of the
States, and each chairman of a delegation announces the votes from
his State. In the Republican convention a majority of the number of
delegates voting is sufficient to nominate; but no nomination is
possible in the Democratic convention except by a vote of
two-thirds of the delegates. Then follows the selection of a
candidate for Vice-President. In this choice the attempt is made to
secure some man who will add strength to the party, and who comes
from a different section of the country from that represented by
the candidate for the Presidency. He may, as in the cases of