Final answer:
Democrats select their national convention delegates based on registered party voters in each state, with adjustments made for penalties or rewards related to primary scheduling. Delegates are essential in party activities like developing the platform and endorsing nominees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Democrats take into account several factors when selecting the number of delegates for their national convention. One of the primary considerations is the number of registered party voters in each state. For example, California, with the largest number of Democrats, had 494 delegates at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, while Wyoming sent only 14 due to its smaller number of Democratic voters.
Additionally, the national political parties may adjust a state's delegate count to penalize or reward certain behaviors. For instance, in 1996, the Republicans offered bonus delegates to states that held their primaries later in the season. Similarly, in 2008, both parties penalized Michigan and Florida by reducing their delegates for holding early primaries. This strategy is designed to influence states' decisions on when to schedule their primaries and prevent the practice of frontloading.
During the national conventions, these delegates engage in key party activities such as debating and voting on the party platform, verifying primary election results, and rallying around the nominees for president and vice president. The eventual party platform is a compilation of issues, referred to as 'planks,' that reflect the concerns of local and state-level party members.