https://search.brave.com/search?q=what+are+the+rules+for+the+democratic+convention&source=desktop&summary=1&summary_og=af89dbc410a4c92e781f06
Based on the provided search results, here are the key rules for the Democratic Convention:
1. Superdelegate participation: Superdelegates will participate only if no winner emerges after the first round of balloting. According to Rule 13.j, “Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.”
2. Majority vote required for nomination: A majority vote of the Convention’s delegates is required to nominate a presidential candidate (Democratic National Convention rules).
3. Balloting will continue until a nominee is selected: Balloting will continue until a nominee is selected, as stated in the Democratic National Convention rules.
4. Pledged delegates are not necessarily bound: Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate are not necessarily bound to vote for that candidate. They are expected to “reflect the sentiments of those who elected them” (Rule 13.j).
5. Free delegates: Some delegates are free to vote their conscience, except when they are restricted by party rules or state laws.
Additionally, the search results highlight the historical context and evolution of the Democratic Convention rules:
* The two-thirds rule, which required a two-thirds majority to nominate a candidate, was waived in 1836 and 1840, and eventually eliminated in 1968.
* The 1968 convention reforms gave more power to primaries in choosing delegates, increasing the democracy of the process.
* The elimination of the two-thirds rule in 1968 led to the disenfranchisement of Southern Democrats and defection to the Republican Party during the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s.
These rules and historical context provide a framework for understanding the Democratic Convention process, including the role of superdelegates, pledged delegates, and free delegates, as well as the requirements for nomination and the potential for contested conventions.