Final answer:
Active membership for members can be retained until the next National convention following high school graduation. National conventions play a crucial role in the political process, by creating a platform for party decisions and candidate endorsements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Members may retain active membership until the next National convention following graduation from high school. National conventions are significant political events where the power of the party is exercised. Delegates from all fifty states make critical decisions for their state parties, including rules and governance. At these conventions, not only is the party's platform debated, modified, and voted upon, but these gatherings also serve to rally members around the presidential and vice-presidential nominees, marking the transition from primary elections to the general election season.
National conventions embody the most lavish and media-covered spectacles within the political realm, drawing the attention of voters nationwide. They heavily influence key decisions within the party, including the adoption of the national party platform and campaign strategies. The prominence and ability of a national convention to project power and unity make it an essential aspect of political campaigning and party coordination.