Question

what happens at a national convention?

• parties choose their presidential nominees.
• the president is officially inaugurated.
• presidential candidates debate on tv.

(left side text: order of electing a president
presidential elections are long affairs, requiring candidates to invest years of effort. the scope of presidential elections makes them unique in how much time and investment is required to run, forcing many candidates to drop out early on.
the steps to presidency
primary season

1. presidential aspirants must announce their candidacy and affiliate themselves with a political party.
2. candidates begin primary campaigns to gain their party’s nomination, demonstrating their popularity through primary elections held in each state.
3. parties select their nominees for president at national conventions, basing their decisions off of primary election performance.

building to the general election

1. the nominee of each party begins their general campaign, running directly against the other nominees.

• these campaigns are huge and expensive, requiring grassroots volunteer help across the nation.

1. the general election is held.

• the public casts their ballots for president on the first tuesday following the first monday in november of the election year.

the process does not end here, but this is the last official step the general public has a role in until the next campaign cycle)

Explanation:

Looking at the left-hand text, under the Primary Season step 3, it states that parties select their presidential nominees at national conventions, using primary election results as the basis. The presidential inauguration happens after the general election, and TV debates are part of the general election buildup, not the national convention.

Answer:

Parties choose their presidential nominees.