<P> In 2008 and 2012, the Democratic and Republican conventions were moved to back - to - back weeks following the conclusion of the Olympics . One reason for these late conventions had to do with campaign finance laws, which allow the candidates to spend an unlimited amount of money before the convention, but forbid fundraising after the convention, in order for the parties to receive federal campaign funds . However, if Barack Obama's choice not to receive federal campaign funds for the 2008 general election is repeated in future elections, this reason for the late scheduling of conventions will no longer be valid . Another reason for the lateness of the conventions is due to the primary calendar, which ends in early June, and the political party's desire to turn the convention into a four - day tightly scripted political rally for their nominee, which just happens to have a roll call vote for President . This includes such logistics as where each delegation sits on the convention floor, the order of speeches, how the nominee wants to present him or herself, and allows time for any negotiations in regards to the running mate . Finally, the parties also did not want to schedule their conventions around the Olympics . One reason why the Democratic Party held its 2008 convention after the two - week - long Beijing Olympics was, according to them, to "maximize momentum for our Democratic ticket in the final months of the Presidential election". But moving the conventions later into early September led to conflicts with the National Football League's season kickoff game, which opens the season on the first Thursday of September . However, the NFL accommodated the conventions and moved its games to an earlier start time in 2008, and an earlier date in 2012 . </P> <P> In 2016, both the Republican and Democratic conventions moved to July, before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August . One reason why the Republican Party wanted a July convention was to help avoid a drawn - out primary battle similar to what happened in 2012 that left the party fractured heading into the general election . The Democrats then followed suit so they could provide a quicker response to the Republicans, rather than wait for more than two weeks until after the Olympics are over . </P> <P> Each party sets its own rules for the participation and format of the convention . Broadly speaking, each U.S. state and territory party is apportioned a select number of voting representatives, individually known as delegates and collectively as the delegation . Each party uses its own formula for determining the size of each delegation, factoring in such considerations as population, proportion of that state's Congressional representatives or state government officials who are members of the party, and the state's voting patterns in previous presidential elections . The selection of individual delegates and their alternates, too, is governed by the bylaws of each state party, or in some cases by state law . </P> <P> The 2004 Democratic National Convention counted 4,353 delegates and 611 alternates . The 2004 Republican National Convention had 2,509 delegates and 2,344 alternates . But these individuals are dwarfed by other attendees who do not participate in the formal business of the convention . These include non-delegate party officials and activists, invited guests and companions, and international observers, not to mention numerous members of the news media, volunteers, protesters, and local business proprietors and promoters hoping to capitalize on the quadrennial event . </P>

Who attends each party's national convention which is held in a presidential election year
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