**Presidential primaries** are internal party elections held in many States and aim to elect delegates to the national convention and/or to express preferences over party candidates.

The rules according to which the primary is held are determined by the State in its laws and they generally apply to both parties.

Therefore, if one party changes its rules for holding these elections and the State accepts them, it will lead to the other party reforming its rules.

After 1968, when the Democratic Party reformed and replaced the **winner-take-all** rule with a new **proportional representation** rule, many States introduced a proportional representation rule in the laws governing primaries.

**The National Convention** is an important political event organized by both majority parties. At this event, delegates elect a party candidate for president and vice president.

In addition to this main agenda of national conventions, they are also used to promote party unity. There are a lot of factions in the parties that sometimes have extremely different opinions on various topics. Given that the convention practically means the beginning of the campaign for the presidential elections, it is necessary to ensure that all parts of the organization are united towards that goal.

For these reasons, great importance is attached to these conventions, although nowadays their outcome is practically known in advance, because the convention usually confirms the results of the primary elections.

The conventions are widely covered by the media and that is why their organization is planned and implemented in detail. It first starts with an opening in which parties work on bringing their delegates closer.

Then the platform is adopted and a keynote address is delivered in order to promote party unity.

This is followed by the election of candidates for vice-president and president, as well as their speeches. These speeches have been covered by the media and have an impact on both the membership and the public. They represent the beginning of the campaign.

In addition to religious beliefs, the following characteristics of the candidate are crucial for the selection of a presidential candidate within the party:

**1. Political experience**

Although there are exceptions, presidential candidates are usually people who have held various important political positions in the administration during their careers. This feature provides experience in the functioning of the state administration.

**2. Pleasant and healthy appearance, seem to be happily married with attractive family**

Voters are generally conservative and value family values, so it is very important for candidates to be portrayed as family-minded.

**3. Good speaking skills**

The campaign for the presidential election is very long and consists of numerous rallies across the country, as well as guest appearances in the media and participation in political debates with opponents. Speaking skills play a big role in the impression a candidate leaves on voters.

**The Electoral college system** is usually the final stage in the election of the president and vice-president of the United States. This system is used despite certain shortcomings that could potentially jeopardize the democratic process.

The members of the Electoral College should only confirm the will of the every State voters, which was expressed through a popular vote. However, the way in which the electoral voting was organized leaves the possibility that the opposite will happen and that the results of the electoral voting will not reflect the will of the majority of citizens.

First of all, during these elections, the winner-take-all rule is respected, according to which the candidate who wins the majority of votes in a State receives all the electoral votes of that State. It would be more democratic to use a proportional system in the distribution of electoral votes. In the existing system, the will of a large number of voters can be neglected, which is not exactly in line with democratic values.

Also, another danger is the way in which electoral votes are distributed among States – the distribution of electoral votes does not match the population of the State. In this case, too, the proportional system might better represent the will of the citizens and thus foster democracy during these most important elections.

Although the electoral system has certain shortcomings, it should be taken into account that they have been realized in a small number of cases.

This system is complicated, but it is well known and provides a certain security and efficiency of the process.

Any new system would also face numerous challenges, so it might be better to reform the existing system.