Republican National Convention - Definition and Overview

The Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Republican Party, is held every four years to determine the party's candidate for the coming Presidential election and the party's platform. In the past this issue was often contentious and the convention could make or break a candidate, but in recent decades the candidate has already long-since been anointed by the Presidential primary process. The occasion of the national conventions marks the close of the primary election period and the start of the general election.

The first convention of the U.S. Republican Party was held on July 6, 1854, in Jackson, Michigan. The 2004 Republican National Convention took place in New York City.

See List of Republican National Conventions