Americans know the Democratic and Republican national conventions to be showcases for political identity. Every four years, they're broadcast from coast to coast across a number of media. Maybe the ratings aren't so great, but it's more than bright lights, big banners and balloons for the political activists who will actually be there for the live show.

Thousands of Americans will attend this year's national conventions. St. Paul, Minn., will accommodate about 45,000 visitors for the Republican National Convention. About the same number is expected in Denver for the Democratic National Convention.

These convention attendees include a wide variety of delegates from different states, each with his or her own special rank. The majority of them are types of "pledged" delegates, whose votes represent the results of this year's primary elections and caucuses. The other "unpledged" delegates (often referred to as "super" delegates by the Democratic party) also attend.

Inside the convention, party members will discuss political issues, rally, hold meetings and listen to the speeches of their leaders. Party members also develop the platform, which is a declaration of political principals and goals that reflect party values. A considerable amount of the convention's time will be spent determining the delegates' credentials and electing convention officers. Other important convention-wide addresses will take place as well. These events traditionally take place during the first few days of the convention.

Eventually, it will be time to vote. At a convention, voting typically occurs in two ways: either a "roll call" is taken electronically among the states, with results arriving via the telephone or Internet, or a "voice vote" is taken among the states' sections, with delegates shouting "aye" or "no." In the end, it is the delegation's decision as to who their party's nominee will be.

As always, the convention will close with the presidential nominee's acceptance speech.

There will be many other attendants inside the conventions this year, include party officials, committee members, volunteers, convention guests and members of the media. These people arrange, maintain and document the events. There will also be many attendants outside the conventions, including police and protesters.

The Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place in St. Paul Sept. 1-4. The Democratic National Convention will take place in Denver August 25-28.

Tickets to the conventions are reserved primarily for delegates and political figures; they are not available to the general public. So, for all the Americans who take part in democracy but can't get into the convention of their political party, there is always the traditional media coverage.