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Convention (meeting)

society Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A convention is a large gathering of people. These people meet at a set time and place. They usually meet to talk about a common interest.

WM2006 0018
WM2006 0018

Many conventions are based on jobs or hobbies. Trade conventions focus on a specific industry. They often have guest speakers and displays from vendors. Professional conventions help people learn about new ideas in their work. Fan conventions are different because they focus on pop culture. Fans might see celebrities or see special shows there. Some people even hold conventions for hobbies like gaming or model railroads.

Nm toronto metro toronto convention centre
Nm toronto metro toronto convention centre

Planning these big events is a very big job. Professional planners often coordinate every small detail. They might work for a hosting company or be outside specialists. Most large cities have a special building for these events. These buildings are called convention centers. In Asia, the industry is often called MICE. This stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, and Exhibitions. The "C" in MICE stands for conventions. This part of the industry is very active and moves quickly. Most of these events are part of the tourism sector.

In a technical sense, a convention is a meeting of representatives. These people are often called delegates. Some groups like labor unions or fraternities send delegates to meet. They do this to talk about issues that affect the whole group. Political conventions also work this way. In modern times, parties use them to pick a leader. Some religious groups also have conventions. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention is a large group that meets this way. In France, a group called the National Convention sat from 1792 to 1795.

NDCH Schwerin
NDCH Schwerin

Conventions have a very long history in the United States. They have helped shape how the government works. One famous meeting was the Annapolis Convention in 1786. It happened in Maryland from September 11 to September 14. This meeting led to the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. That meeting lasted from May 14 until September 17. The people there proposed a new Constitution for the country. Other meetings helped people fight for their rights. The Seneca Falls Convention and the Rochester Women's Rights Convention helped women win the right to vote. The Colored Conventions Movement also helped African Americans fight for justice.

Conventions can also help states work together. Sometimes states meet to solve problems about their borders. They might also meet to manage shared water, like the Colorado River. There have been 233 state-level conventions in U.S. history. These meetings are used to rewrite state rules or constitutions. The federal government also uses conventions to bring new states into the union. So far, 31 states have joined this way. An enabling act is used to start this process. This happened for states like Nevada in 1864 and Utah in 1894. These meetings are a way for people to lead themselves.

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NDCH Schwerin.jpg
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