Final answer:
U.S. political parties hold their General Conventions every four years during the summer, typically lasting four days and marking the end of primary elections and the start of the general election campaign.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political parties in the United States, specifically the Democratic and Republican parties, hold their national General Conventions once every four years. This significant event occurs during the summer of the presidential election cycle and typically spans across four days. The timing of these conventions usually falls between June and September, marking the transition from the primary election season to the general election campaign.
The conventions are a platform where delegates from all fifty states gather to shape party policies, debate and decide on the party platform, and formally nominate their presidential and vice presidential candidates. These events gather national attention, with days dedicated to internal party business and evenings filled with speeches from key political figures, including the party nominees. In recent times, notably in 2020, adaptations were made to the traditional convention format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in virtual or hybrid models of these gatherings.