Constitution Party (United States)
From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.
The Constitution Party is the third-largest political party in the United States in terms of numbers of registered voters. The party was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party. Its name was changed to the Constitution Party in 1999, but some state affiliate parties have different names. The Michigan affiliate has kept the US Taxpayers Party name in order to retain ballot status, and in Connecticut the affiliate is the Concerned Citizens Party.
Most of the Constitution Party's registered voters are in two states: California, in which the affiliate is the American Independent Party, founded in 1967, and Nevada, in which the affiliate is named the Independent American Party. According to some observers, the word "Independent" in the party name may have attracted the registrations of voters intending to declare themselves unaffiliated with any party, but there is no way to determine to what extent this might be true.
In the 2004 elections, the Constitution Party was the only one of the national third parties to increase its percentage of the vote, polling more than 40% better than in 2000. One of its candidates, Rick Jore, was also elected to the Montana state legislature, becoming the first Constitution Party candidate to be elected to that level of government.
Platform
The party holds that United States law is based on the moral principles of Christianity as taught by the Bible, urges the abolition of the federal income tax, and advocates a stricter adherence to what it views as the original intent of the United States Constitution. Members support reducing the role of the United States federal government through drastic reductions in taxes, spending and regulation, as well as reducing and eventually eliminating the role the United States plays in supernational entities such as the United Nations.
The party has a generally libertarian view on issues of foreign policy, Second Amendment rights and economics, but supports protectionist policies on trade and advocates a more restrictive immigration policy. It is conservative on social issues, including same-sex marriage, abortion and the place of religion in American life.
Presidential and vice presidential nominees
- 1992: Howard Phillips and Albion Knight, Jr. — 42,960 popular votes (0.04%)
- 1996: Howard Phillips and Herb Titus — 184,820 popular votes (0.19%)
- 2000: Howard Phillips and Dr. J. Curtis Frazier — 98,020 popular votes (0.09%)
- 2004: Michael Peroutka and Chuck Baldwin — 140,527 popular votes (0.12%)
See also: List of political parties in the United States
External links
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Constitution Party | Democratic Party | Green Party | Libertarian Party | Reform Party | Republican Party |
