Constitution Party

Category: National Platform

A collection of national platform planks and white papers on important issues from a constitutional perspective.

  • FOREIGN POLICY

    FOREIGN POLICY

    George Washington’s Farewell Address: 

    “Europe has a set of primary interests, which have to us none, or very remote relation. Hence, she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collusions of her friendships or enmities.  

    Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rival-ship, interest, humor, or caprice?” 

    Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address: 

    “I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one] which ought to shape its administration, … peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” 

    John Quincy Adams, 4 July 1821,Speech in Washington D.C.:

     “America has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when the conflict has been for principles to which she clings…. She goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.  She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.” 

    James Monroe, Monroe Doctrine:

    “We have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do…. Our policy in regard to Europe…is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers…”  

    NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY 

    The United States is properly a free and sovereign republic which should strive to live in peace with all nations, without interfering in their internal affairs, and without permitting their interference in ours. 

    We are unalterably opposed to entangling alliances – via treaties, or any other form of commitment – which compromise our national sovereignty, or commit us to intervention in foreign wars.

    We are opposed to the negotiation or ratification of any treaty, agreement, or partnership that would deprive United States citizens of their rights protected by the United States Constitution. 

    We are also opposed to any union whether political or economic, of the United States, Mexico, and Canada (NAU). 

    THE CONSTITUTION PARTY COMMITTMENT

    We will do the following:  

    • Steadfastly oppose American participation in any form of world government organization, including any world court under United Nations auspices;  
    • Call upon the President, and Congress, to terminate United States membership in the United Nations, and its subsidiary organizations, and terminate U.S. participation in all so-called U.N. peace keeping operations;  
    • Bar the United Nations, and its subsidiaries, from further operation, including raising of funds, on United States territory; and  
    • Propose that the Constitution be obeyed to prohibit the United States government from entering any treaty, or other agreement, which makes any commitment of American military forces or tax money, compromises the sovereignty of the United States, or accomplishes a purpose properly the subject of domestic law. 
    • Denounce the agreement establishing the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and any other such trade agreements, either bilateral or regional in nature. All treaties must be subordinate to the Constitution, since the Constitution is the only instrument which empowers and limits the federal government.  
    • Require that American troops must serve only under American commanders, not those of the United Nations or foreign countries. 

    PACTS AND AGREEMENTS:  

    Since World War II, the United States has increasingly played the undesirable role of an international policeman. 

    Through our involvements abroad our country is being changed from a republic to a world empire in which our freedoms are being sacrificed on an altar of international involvement. 

    The United States is now committed by treaty to defend foreign nations in all parts of the world, and by agreements other than treaties to defend more.  

    We call upon the President, and Congress, to immediately commence a systematic withdrawal from these treaties and agreements, each of which holds the potential to plunge America into war in some far-flung corner of the earth. NATO, for instance, serves no defensive purpose for the United States, and this country should withdraw from it.  

    UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNDECLARED WARS 

    Since World War II, the United States has been involved in tragic, unconstitutional, undeclared wars which cost our country the lives of many thousands of young Americans. 

    These wars were the direct and foreseeable result of the bi-partisan interventionist policy of both Democrat and Republican administrations.  

    The Constitution Party is opposed to the continuation of the same interventionist policy, with that policy’s capacity to involve our country in repeated wars.  

    We demand the following:    

    • That NEVER AGAIN shall United States troops be employed on any foreign field of battle without a declaration of  war by Congress, as required by the United States Constitution;  
    • That Congress shall refuse to fund unconstitutional, undeclared wars pursuant to presidential whim or international obligations under which American sovereignty has been transferred to multinational agencies.  

    FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT  

    The Constitution Party has consistently opposed American involvement in conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America.  

    The United States has no interest in these areas which would justify the sacrifice of Americans on foreign battlefields – nor is our country properly cast as a merchant of death in international arms races.

    We propose that the United States shall:  

    • Repudiate any commitment, express or implied, to send U.S. troops to participate in foreign conflicts, whether unilaterally, under NATO auspices, or as a part of the United Nations “peacekeeping” operations; and  
    • Cease financing or arming of belligerents in the world’s –troubled areas.  

    We support the principle of the Monroe Doctrine, which expresses U.S. opposition to European adventurism in the Western Hemisphere.  

    We call upon the Congress to immediately terminate American military presence in all foreign countries where such U.S. presence constitutes an invitation for this nation to become involved in, or further participate in, foreign wars.  

    FOREIGN AID  

    Since World War II, the United States has engaged in the greatest international giveaway program ever conceived by man and is now spending billions of dollars each year to aid foreign nations. 

    There is no constitutional basis for foreign aid. These expenditures have won us no friends and constitute a major drain on the resources of our taxpayers. 

    We demand that: 

    • No further funds be appropriated for any kind of foreign aid program;  
    • United States participation in international lending institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund be ended;  
    • The Export-Import Bank be abolished;  
    • All government subsidies, tax preferences and investment guarantees to encourage U.S. businesses to invest in foreign lands be immediately terminated; and  
    • All debts owed to the United States by foreign countries, or foreign entities, be collected.  
  • FAMILY

    FAMILY

    The Constitution grants the federal government NO authority to define marriage or family relations.

    The Tenth Amendment:

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

    The law of our Creator defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The marriage covenant is the foundation of the family, and the family is fundamental in the maintenance of a stable, healthy and prosperous social order. No government may legitimately authorize or define marriage or family relations contrary to what God has instituted.

    The Founders understood that Family, as commonly understood among the people, is necessary to the General Welfare of a nation. 

    We affirm the importance of Biblical scripture in establishing the Founders’ intent, as eloquently stated by Noah Webster:

    “The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitution and laws… All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts in the Bible.”

    We oppose any judicial ruling or amending the U.S. Constitution or any state constitution re-defining marriage with any definition other than the Biblical standard.

    We call for an end to all taxation and economic formulas that discourage marriage, incentivize cohabitation and child bearing outside of marriage or authorize or provide government funding for policies and programs that further erode the jurisdiction of the family or parental rights.

    HOMOSEXUALITY, TRANSGENDERISM, OTHER DEVIANT BEHAVIORS

    • We reject the notion that homosexuals, transgenders or those who are sexually deviant are deserving of legal favor or special protection, and affirm the rights of states and localities to proscribe offensive sexual behavior. 
    • We oppose all efforts to impose a new sexual legal order through any courts or legislatures. 
    • We stand against so-called “sexual orientation” and “hate crime” statutes that attempt to legitimize inappropriate sexual behavior or stifle public opposition to its expression. 
    • We oppose government funding of “partner” benefits for unmarried individuals. 
    • We oppose any legal recognition of homosexual or civil unions.

    BIOLOGICAL SEX IN SOCIETY

    • One’s biological sex at birth cannot be changed, even with surgical and hormonal alterations.
    • Individuals, organizations or governments should never be required to change official records to reflect a gender differing from that at their birth.
    • No one or no entity has the right to force anyone to accept another person’s claim to be of a gender differing from their birth. 
    • We oppose any use of taxpayer funds to facilitate attempts at biological sex change, or penalizing parents for refusing to go along with a biological sex change by a minor child. 
    • It is improper to allow biological males to compete in female sports, or to have access to bathrooms, locker rooms, or prison facilities that don’t conform to their biological sex, no matter what degree of biological sex transformation or hormonal therapy they have undergone.

    PARENTAL RIGHTS

    • We recognize that parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to nurture, educate, and discipline their children. 
    • We oppose the assumption of any of these responsibilities by any governmental agency without the express delegation of the parents or legal due process. 
    • We affirm the value of the father and the mother in the home.
    • We oppose efforts to legalize adoption of children by homosexual singles or couples.
  • EXECUTIVE ORDERS

    EXECUTIVE ORDERS

    Article 1, Section 1 of the Constitution clearly restricts the power to make laws:  

    “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.”  

    We oppose the use of Presidential executive orders that make law or otherwise usurp the Constitutional authority and responsibilities of the legislative and judicial branches. 

    Congress must stop this Constitutionally subversive practice.  

    All unconstitutional executive orders are null and void. 

  • ENVIRONMENT

    ENVIRONMENT

    James Madison, Federalist Papers #45 

    “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.” 

    U.S. Constitution, 10th Amendment 

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” 

    It is our responsibility to be prudent, productive, and efficient stewards of God’s natural resources. 

    In that role, we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply and to replenish the earth and develop it (e.g., to turn deserts into farms and wastelands into groves). 

    This requires a proper and continuing dynamic balance between development and conservation, between use and preservation. 

    We wholeheartedly support realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution – air, water, and land. 

    • We reject the argument of the perceived threat of man-made global warming which has been refuted by a large number of scientists. The globalists are using the global warming threat to gain more control via worldwide sustainable development. 
    • We support protecting the environment from provable pollutions in high enough quantities to constitute a real threat. 
    • We reject the claims of man-made Climate Change or that Carbon Dioxide is a pollutant. 
    • We call for the repeal of federal wetlands legislation and portions of the Clean Water Act that claim control over water on private property. 
    • We call for the repeal of the federal Endangered Species Act. 
    • We call for the abolishing of the Environmental Protection Agency and all other unconstitutional agencies.

    The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution limits the federal power of eminent domain solely to the purchase of private property with just compensation for public use, such as military reservations and government office buildings, not for public ownership, such as urban renewal, environmental protection, or historic preservation. 

    Under no circumstances may the federal government take private property by means of rules and regulations that preclude or substantially reduce the productive use of the property, even with just compensation. 

    We oppose any attempt to designate private or public property as United Nations World Heritage sites or Biosphere reserves. 

    We call for an end to United States participation in United Nations programs, including environmental treaties and conventions, which destroy our sovereignty and right to private property. 

  • ENERGY

    ENERGY

    James Madison, Federalist Papers #45 

    “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.” 

    U.S. Constitution, 10th Amendment 

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” 

    We call attention to the continuing need of the United States for a sufficient supply of energy for national security and for the immediate adoption of a policy of free market solutions to achieve energy independence for the United States. 

    Private property rights should be respected

    The federal government should not interfere with the development of potential energy sources, including natural gas, oil, coal, hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind generators, and nuclear energy. 

    We call for abolishing the Department of Energy, transferring its nuclear responsibilities to other appropriate agencies.

  • ELECTORAL COLLEGE

    ELECTORAL COLLEGE

    Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution states, in part: 

    “Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector.” 

    This established the Electoral College. 

    The Constitution Party seeks a restoration of this electoral process for the choosing of the President and the Vice President of the United States. 

    The Constitution does not provide for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States by popular vote, but rather by the selection of “Electors” according to rules adopted by each state’s legislators. 

    These electors would receive the list of certified candidates. They would then cast their vote for whomever they ascertained as best qualified to fill these two highest offices of trust with the federal government. 

    The Constitution does not require the states to adhere to any specific manner in electing these electors or how they cast their votes.

    Its wording does suggest that prominent individuals from each congressional district, and the state at large, would be elected or appointed as electors who represent that district. 

    • A voter would vote for three individuals, one to represent his district and two “at large” representatives to represent his state. 
    • These electors, in turn, would then carefully and deliberately select the candidate for president. 
    • Under this system, each congressional district could, in essence, select a different candidate. 
    • The candidate with the most electors nationwide would become the next president. 
    • This was the method used until the 1830s, at which time all the states, except for South Carolina, changed to a “general ticket.”

    THE “GENERAL TICKET” SYSTEM

    The “general ticket” system is still in use today. Inherently, it causes corruption because of the inequitable transfer of power from congressional districts to the states and large cities at the expense of rural communities. 

    The Constitution Party encourages states to eliminate the “general ticket” system and return to the procedure intended by the Framers. 

    THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE

    The National Popular Vote system is a dangerous threat to our Constitutional Republic, allowing as few as eighteen to twenty-one states to circumvent the constitutional requirement of thirty-eight states to amend the Constitution. 

    The National Popular Vote process would effectively eliminate the last vestiges of the Electoral College, as originally set forth in the United States Constitution. 

    The National Popular Vote creates a fake majority by forcing electors to vote against the votes cast by their constituents. 

    The national Constitution Party opposes the National Popular Vote and will work to defeat it in individual state legislatures.

    Eliminating the Electoral College would instantly make the votes of Americans in approximately twenty-five states irrelevant. 

    Candidates would only be interested in campaigning in large population states, making small states meaningless zeros. 

    There is no threshold of what constitutes a “majority” under National Popular Vote. Therefore, a presidential candidate could be elected with as little as 15% of the popular vote. 

    Under the National Popular Vote scheme, chaos would ensue in any close election. 

    Under the Electoral College, no single faction or region of the country can elect a president, ensuring broad representation across the United States. 

  • ELECTION REFORM

    ELECTION REFORM

    US Constitution, Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1: 

    “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing* Senators.”  

    The Constitutional balance of power on this matter has been destroyed by the 17th Amendment. The States no longer have a representative at the Federal level.** 

    The Constitution Party seeks the restoration of an electoral process that is controlled at the state and local level and is beyond manipulation by federal judges and bureaucrats. 

    The federal government has unconstitutionally and unwisely preempted control in matters of district boundaries, electoral procedures, and campaign activities.  

    The Voting Rights Act should be repealed.  

    The Federal Election Campaign Act, including its 1974 amendments, and the Federal Election Commission should be abolished. 

    Each citizen should have the right to seek public office in accordance with the qualifications set forth in federal and state constitutions. Additional restrictions and obligations governing candidate eligibility and campaign procedures burden unconstitutionally the fairness and accountability of our political system.  

    FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

    To encourage free and fair elections, all candidates must be treated equally. 

    We call for an end to designated “Major Party” status that gives an unfair advantage to some candidates by providing ballot access and taxpayer dollars, while requiring others for the same office to gather petition signatures or meet other more stringent criteria. 

    We call for a repeal of all federal campaign finance laws (i.e. McCain-Feingold) due to their violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. At a minimum, elections should be audited at random at the precinct level in a completely transparent manner after the polls close.  

    SAFEGUARDING OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS FROM COMPUTER FRAUD AND MAIL-IN BALLOT FRAUD

    We support eliminating all use of electronic voting machines and electronic tabulation machines/computers.

    • Mail in ballots shall be limited to absentee ballots with rigorous signature verification. 
    • All voters shall be registered at least thirty days beforehand, by photo ID and proof of citizenship.
    • Actual voting shall be in person voting on a single election day at approved polling places. 

    TRUE FREEDOM REQUIRES BEING INCONVIENIENCED AND PUTTING FORTH EXTRA EFFORD FROM TIME-TO-TIME

    • We oppose any movement to codify or use Vote-By-Mail and other such schemes which undermine the liberty-preserving privilege of voting in secret, in person, at precinct-based polling places. 
    • A Social Security Number should not be used as a personal identifier in any part of our election process or voter validation. 
       * original spelling from Constitution
     ** See “Congressional Reform” plank.
  • EDUCATION

    EDUCATION

    Since the Constitution grants the federal government NO authority over Education, the Tenth Amendment applies.  It states:

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

    All teaching is related to basic assumptions about God and man. Education as a whole, therefore, cannot be separated from religious faith. The law of our Creator assigns the authority and responsibility of educating children to their parents.

    Federal control of Education has long been championed by communists and humanists as a means of overtaking and corrupting our American way of life.

    Karl Marx (10th Point of the Communist Manifesto): “Free education for all children in government schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc. etc.”


    The Humanist Manifesto II:  “We believe in the right to universal education.”

    William Foster, former head of the US Communist Party (On Using Education to Destroy America): “…the schools, colleges and universities will be coordinated and grouped under the National Department of Education and its state and local branches.  The studies will be revolutionized, being cleansed of religious, patriotic and other features of the bourgeois ideology.  The students will be taught on the basis of Marxian dialectical materialism, internationalism and the general ethics of the new Socialist society.  Present obsolete methods of teaching will be superseded by a scientific pedagogy.”

    BASIC PRINCIPLES:

    • Education should be free from all federal government subsidies, including vouchers, tax incentives, and loans, except with respect to veterans.
    • We support the unimpeded right of parents to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including home, private or religious.
    • All legislation from any level of government that would interfere with or restrict that liberty should be opposed.
    • Equitable tax relief for families whose children do not attend government schools should be provided for.  This could be in the form of tuition write-offs.
    • Compulsory attendance laws should be repealed. Parents need not defy the law by refusing to send their children to schools of which they disapprove.
    • We affirm the free market principles which drive improvement of education through non-traditional options such as internet-based schools, charter schools, Christian and private schools, as well as home schooling options.

    WE CALL FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

    • There is NO Constitutional provision that empowers the federal government to provide for and regulate the education of our children.
    • All current federal legislation related to education should be repealed. 
    • No new federal laws subsidizing or regulating education should be enacted.

    WE OPPOSE ANY FEDERAL CONTROL OVER THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN:

    • Because control over education is now being relegated to departments other than the Department of Education, we clarify that NO federal agency, department, board, or other entity may exercise jurisdiction over any aspect of children’s upbringing. Education, training, and discipline of children are properly placed in the domain of their parents.
    • Under NO circumstances should the federal government be involved in national teacher certification, educational curricula, textbook selection, learning standards, comprehensive sex education, psychological and psychiatric research testing programs, and personnel.

    WE CALL UPON THE LEGISLATURES OF THE STATES TO EXERCISE THEIR POWERS UNDER THE TENTH AMENDMENT:

    • Nullify the “No Child Left Behind” Act, and all other similar legislative actions.
    • Remove all regulations imposed by the Department of Education.
    • Reject federal monies for grades K-12.
  • DRUG ABUSE

    DRUG ABUSE

    The 10th Amendment states: 

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” 

    The 4th Amendment states: 

    “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” 

    The Constitution Party will uphold the right of states and localities to restrict access to drugs and to enforce such restrictions. 

    We support legislation to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States from foreign sources. As a matter of self-defense, retaliatory policies, including embargoes, sanctions, and tariffs, should be considered. 

    THE CONSTITUTION PARTY COMMITMENT

    We will take care to prevent violations of the constitutional and civil rights of American citizens. Searches without probable cause and seizures without due process must be prohibited. The presumption of innocence must be preserved.

  • DOMESTIC FEDERAL AID

    DOMESTIC FEDERAL AID

    The 10th Amendment states:  

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” 

    The Constitution assigns all powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people. Domestic federal “aid” not authorized by the Constitution is not only illegal, it is immoral. 

    We call upon the states, therefore, to decline to accept all monies from the federal government for any purpose not specifically and clearly articulated in the Constitution, and reject all federal mandates and regulations which are unconstitutional, thus restoring the intended balance of power between the states and their creation, the U.S. Government.