Quick guide to conventions and events for Bernie conspiracy theorists.

[YouDig]

The latest conspiracy theory going around is that the Nevada convention was rigged because the start time was at 9, the registration closed at 10, and the first vote was held at 9:30. I'd say this is one of the dumber conspiracy theories, but every conspiracy theory is beautiful in it's own special way, so let's talk about this one.

Seems to me very few Sanders people have ever attended an organized event like this. Here's how it works.

On the program, the schedule will have something called the "start time". That is the time that the event starts. There will also be a "registration window", or maybe multiple windows. During the "registration window" there is something called a "registration desk". At the "registration desk" there are friendly people who check you in, check your credentials or take your paperwork if necessary, mark down that you are there, give you your event packet, usually a nametag, and a bag full of "goodies" and that kind of thing.

You can go to the "registration desk" and check in at any time during the "registration window". A lot of times, the "registration window" will stay open after the "start time" of the event. This so people who show up late still have a chance to register. The "registration window" has nothing to do with the start of the event. The event starts at the "start time". If you don't want to miss anything, you should show up before the "start time", so that you can go to the "registration desk" and check in with time to spare before the event starts.

If you are confused about what "start time" and "registration window" could possibly mean, then you should ask someone about it, they will be happy to clarify. Do not, under any circumstances, assume that the "registration window" indicates what time the event starts. Also the schedule of the event might have other things like "lunch" and "dinner" and "coffee" and "invited speaker". Do not confuse these with the "start time" of the event either. These are, respectively, the times that lunch, dinner, or coffee is served, or when an invited speaker will give a talk.

Glad I could help.

[tonyt53]

1. Political novices, every one of them.

[YouDig]

2. Not even just political. Any kind of convention or organized event has this.

Even as a kid, if you went to like a junior high tennis tournament, you know how it works.

[MineralMan]

3. Yup.

I've been a delegate to a number of conventions. Business starts at the start time. If you want to be involved in the early business of the convention, you need to be in your seat at that time. You can still register and come in late, but you're going to miss some procedural stuff, like votes to accept the rules committee report and things like that.

During these conventions, the credentials committee provides reports of how many delegates are present. The first one normally is given at the start time. Then, an update comes when registration closes, but some routine business will already have been done by the vote of those present. Finally, before the main voting at the convention occurs, a final credentials report is provided by the credentials committee, to establish what a majority actually is.

Bottom line is that, to participate in decision making, you have to be on the convention floor or in the actual room where the convention is being held. If you are not, you can't vote on whatever business comes to the floor.

Start time for a political convention is when the first routine votes are taken. If you're not in the hall, you don't get counted. If you're out in the hallway, schmoozing, you don't get to vote. If you're arguing with the credentials committee, you don't get to vote. To vote, you must be credentialed and in the actual room when the vote is called.

This is often confusing to novice delegates. They think it's like some sort of business convention or gathering. It's not. It's an official meeting to decide stuff. If you want to vote, you have to be present in the hall when the vote is called. If you're not, others will decide.

Typically, there is a quorum for voting. If that many people are credentialed and present, voting can take place, and is binding.

Personally, I'm always in the hall, credentialed and in a seat on an aisle well before start time. I take political conventions seriously, and I want my votes to count. I'm funny that way, I guess.

[YouDig]

4. Never been to a political convention, just academic and business events.

There it doesn't really matter when you register (or even if you register, in some of them, unless you really want the nametag and the bag of goodies). It also doesn't matter if you're in the room or out schmoozing, all you're doing is missing talks or roundtables or whatever. The exception is that if you are presenting or participating in a roundtable: it's a pretty good idea to be in attendance then.

Still, if I were to go to an event like this where I was an actual delegate representing people and participating in actual votes, it's not very hard to figure out that "start" means "start" and "registration close" means "registration close".

[MineralMan]

5. At every political convention I've attended,

you get a packet at the registration table. In it, typically, is an agenda for the convention, which tells you the order in which things will be done. You also get copies of things you'll be voting on, like the rules document and other documents that the convention will vote on to approve.

Typically, the first order of business is to approve the agenda and the rules for the convention. If you're there early, you might have time to scan through those things. Most people don't bother. The agenda and rules approvals come up right after the convention is called to order. Typically, they are brought to the floor, seconded and approved by a majority of those in the hall on a voice vote.

If you think something should be changed, you have to call for discussion before the vote. You can make a motion to amend the agenda or the rules or whatever at that time. But, to do that, you have to know what's in the document and have a clear way to describe what needs to be changed and why. Then, a vote will be taken on your amendment, if it gets a second. Once all amendments are dealt with, assuming there are any proposed, the vote on the agenda or rules is taken.

If you're not in the hall, you can't present a motion. You also can't vote. Those initial votes are almost always fast. Rarely does anyone propose an amendment to the agenda or rules. If someone does, though, they come to a vote during the discussion period for the original motion. A reasonable knowledge of Roberts Rules of Order is crucial if you want to participate at that level.

Those procedural votes happen early, because the convention business cannot take place until there is agreement. So, being there at the start is crucial if you think there should be change. If you're out in the hall, you get what you get. Once those procedural votes are completed, objection to them is out of order and won't be considered. Period.

[YouDig]

7. It struck me as weird that there was so much anger about the "rules" vote.

I would guess, like you say, that the vote on the rules is pretty much a formality. I wonder how the Bernie people wanted to change the rules? Basically, the big thing that's going to happen is they're going to vote for national delegates, and all that matters there is who has more votes. Whatever else is going to happen, I doubt that the specific parliamentary procedures that were going to be used to work out the party platform or whatever could be of much consequence.

Unless the Bernie people were doing it specifically to disrupt, and wanted rules that made disruption easier.

[MineralMan]

6. Here's how the rules were approved at the last political convention I attended.

Chair: Is there a motion to approve the rules as presented by the rules committee?
Someone: So moved.
Someone else: Second
Chair: Is there any discussion? (pause) Any discussion? (pause) Any discussion? (pause)
Chair: Hearing no calls for discussion or motions, I call the vote. All in favor say Aye. (pause) All those opposed say Nay. (pause)
Chair: By voice vote, the motion carries.

Less than a minute passes for this entire action. Unless you're ready to call for discussion or present an amendment when called for by the chair, your window closes to do so. If you're not paying close attention or aren't in the hall, you've lost your opportunity. If you haven't read the rules document, you have no idea what's in it. In my experience, nobody is reading those documents. They're all chatting with the people near them or looking at their cell phones. It's all pro forma, really. You have to be sharp and paying attention if you want to get something in there, but there is always an opportunity. You either take that opportunity or you accept that the motion has passed and you live with the rules, whether you know what they are or not. Most people don't care. They've seen all this before and have a basic understanding of the rules.