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Americans Love a Convention - Long gone are the days of delegate convention-floor fistfights and smoke-filled backrooms at national conventions to nominate the president. Now they are televised and live-streamed extravaganzas that offer each side an opportunity to present an unfiltered message to millions of viewers and appeal to undecided voters. Here's the lowdown on what happens at conventions and what to expect this year. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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What Is the Function of the National Convention? - The most important thing that happens at a political convention is the formal nomination of the party’s presidential ticket. Before 1856, candidates were nominated by members of Congress, but since then, they have been chosen by delegates who have been appointed at the state or county level by party members. Although the top of the ticket is typically known long before the convention, the event is sometimes used to introduce the vice presidential candidate. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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When and Where Are the 2012 National Conventions? - The Republican Party is holding its convention in Tampa, Florida, from Aug. 27-30. The Democratic National Convention will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Sept. 3-6. (Photos from left: Mario Tama/Getty Images, Tim Boyles/Getty Images)

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The Virtual Convention - You don't have to be there to get the full experience of a political convention. In the age of the Internet, voters can view and, in some cases, participate in the action from home via Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks and, of course, on BET News and BET.com.

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The Keynote Address - The keynote address is typically delivered by a party leader or rising star who makes the case for his or her party and candidates and criticizes the opposition. In 2004, then-Senate candidate Barack Obama rose to national prominence when he delivered the keynote at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. This year, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will deliver the Republicans' keynote speech and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will keynote the Democrats' convention. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Will Any African-Americans Deliver Convention Speeches? - The Republican lineup includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Alabama Democratic Rep. Artur Davis. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and California Attorney General Kamala Harris will address the Democrats, and as head of the host city, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx  will also deliver remarks. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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What Else Happens? - A convention typically runs for four days, during which delegates vote to formally nominate the presidential ticket, debate and adopt a party platform of issues and conduct other party business. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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What Is a Party Platform? - A political platform documents the party's positions on a variety of political issues and is used to attract and retain voters. It also is a benchmark of the party's overall philosophy and affirms the principles on which it stands. (Photo: iVoteValues)

Photo By Photo: iVoteValues

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Democratic Party Platform - The 2012 Democratic platform supports same-sex marriage and calls for comprehensive immigration reform, such as the Dream Act. It supports preserving the Second Amendment right to own and use firearms, but also calls for "reasonable regulation," including a ban on assault-style weapons and more exhaustive background checks. (Photo: democrats.org)

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Republican Party Platform - The GOP's 2012 platform includes an anti-abortion plank that makes no exception for incest or rape, rejects civil unions for gay couples and calls for a guest worker program plank. (Photo: GOP.com)

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The Acceptance Speech - Romney's task during his acceptance speech is to re-introduce himself to all Americans, not just the members of the base who've been paying attention all along, and convince them that he's the candidate of the future. Obama, who is recognized around the world, must convince voters that he's still the candidate of hope and change and make the case for four more years. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Photo By Mark Wilson/Getty Images

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Historic Conventions - Chicago 1888: Frederick Douglass, at the Republican National Convention, became the first African-American to be nominated to become president of the United States and received one vote from Kentucky. Chicago 1968: The Democratic National Convention to nominate Sen. Hubert Humphrey is best remembered for a series of anti-Vietnam War protests and riots that culminated in violence between the protesters and the Illinois National Guard and local law enforcement officers. The assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. that year added tension. Denver 2008: Sen. Barack Obama became the first African-American to win the presidential nomination. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)