University of Virginia Library

Inside Reform
Will Affect
Conventions

Internal reform movements will affect
national political party conventions in
1972, decreasing unfair procedures and
increasing minority representation,
predicts Paul T. David, Professor of
Government and Foreign Affairs.

Writing in the current issue of Vital
Issues, Mr. David states that both parties
have authorized studies of possible
changes in convention procedure which
would increase representation of young
people, women and minority groups, and
decrease convention oratory,
demonstrations and unfair voting
procedures.

"The contemporary pressures for
change in the convention procedures,"
Mr. David asserts, "have been
accumulating since 1952, when the
conventions were subject to nation-wide
television coverage for the first time."

"Dissatisfaction with both party
conventions," he continues, "reached
something of a peak in 1968 although for
quite different reasons. The Republican
convention was disliked for its dullness.
The Democratic convention, on the other
hand, was the scene of much disorder and
some violence, with repercussions that are
still continuing."

In response to the need for convention
reform, the Republicans formed in 1968
a "Delegate and Organization
Committee", chaired by Rosemary Ginn