Guide Note

A special meeting of the Democratic National Convention convened on May 31, 2008, to decide how Democratic primary delegates from Michigan and Florida will be seated - or if any would be allowed at all.

The Democratic Party had barred delegates from the two states as punishment for disobeying primary scheduling rules.

The final decision of the Rules and Bylaws Committee was to reinstate all delegates from both states, granting each delegate half of a normal vote.

This was generally considered a compromise and was a decision similar to that made by the Republican Party on the same issue.

Fast Facts

1. Meeting on May 31, 2008
2. Decided the status of delegates from Florida and Michigan
3. All delegates reinstated, each given half of a vote
4. Hillary Clinton wanted all delegates to be reinstated
5. Barack Obama opposes reinstatement or re-vote
6. Obama did not campaign in Florida and did not appear on the ballot in Michigan
7. The Democratic Party stripped the state's of their delegates after they violated primary scheduling rules

After a meeting that went late into the night, inside sources reported that the Rules and Bylaws Committee had decided to allow all of Florida's delegates, but would only grant each one half of a regular vote.

The debate over Michigan was reportedly heated. One proposition was to split the votes evenly between the two candidates, a solution that was opposed by the Hillary Clinton campaign.

It was also reported that Carl Levin, who is representing Michigan at the meeting, will push for the reinstatement of all delegates with full votes.

It is hoped that the meeting will bring conclusion to the ongoing debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and bring a sense of unity to the party. However, the meeting was surrounded by vocal protests from Clinton supporters.