Eleanor Finch
The Constitution Party, formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party, is an ultra-conservative political party in the United States. The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, and has a platform based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution, as well as principles from the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Bible. While it is not one of the two major parties in the U.S. political system, it is the fifth-largest party overall and has had some success in getting its candidates elected to office. For example, in 1999, Rick Jore, a member of the Montana House of Representatives, left the Republican Party and joined the Constitution Party. In 2020, Blankenship won the party's presidential nomination, and in the same year, the Virginia Constitution Party gave its vice-presidential nomination to Matthew Hehl.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Constitution Party, formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party |
| Founding | Founded in 1992 by Howard Phillips |
| Ideology | Ultra-conservative, religiously conservative, pro-life, pro-gun rights, anti-taxation, anti-foreign aid, anti-federal aid, anti-national healthcare |
| Ballot Access | Qualified in 14 states as of September 2019 |
| Notable Members | Rick Jore, Michael Peroutka, William Mohr, Randall Terry, Stephen Broden, Joel Skousen |
| Notable Candidates | Howard Phillips, Pat Buchanan, Ross Perot, Bob Smith, Curtis Frazier, Joseph Sobran, Sheila Tittle, Matthew Hehl |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution Party is a political party in the US
- It is the fifth-largest political party in the country
- The party is ultra-conservative and promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
- The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist
- The party supports the right to bear arms and opposes federal aid and national healthcare
The Constitution Party is a political party in the US
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States. It is an ultra-conservative political party that promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution. The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, after President George H. W. Bush broke his pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". The Constitution Party was established as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in 1992 and was officially recognised by the Federal Election Commission in 1996. The name was changed to the Constitution Party in 1999.
The party platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and is shaped by principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible. The party supports the right of citizens to keep and bear arms and opposes attempts to prohibit gun ownership by law-abiding citizens. They also stand against any laws that would require the registration of guns or ammunition. The Constitution Party believes that the United States is a free and sovereign republic that should strive to live in peace with all nations, without interfering in their internal affairs or permitting interference in its own affairs. They are opposed to entangling alliances, such as treaties or other commitments that may compromise national sovereignty or lead to intervention in foreign wars.
The Constitution Party has a strong stance on abortion, believing that the pre-born child, whose life begins at fertilization, is a human being created in God's image. They assert that it is the duty of civil governments to secure and safeguard the lives of the pre-born and that under no circumstances should the federal government fund or support any entity that advocates, encourages, or participates in abortion practices. Additionally, they oppose the funding and legalization of bio-research involving human embryonic or pre-embryonic cells, as well as euthanasia, infanticide, and suicide.
In terms of serving politicians, the Constitution Party has had some success in getting their candidates elected. In 1999, New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith briefly sought the party's presidential nomination before dropping out. In 2000, Rick Jore, a member of the Montana House of Representatives, left the Republican Party and joined the Constitution Party. In the 2020 presidential election, the party's nomination was won by Blankenship, with William Mohr as the vice-presidential nominee. However, the party has also faced challenges, with some state parties rejecting their nominees and instances of the Democratic Party helping Constitution Party candidates to spoil the Republican Party's chances.
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It is the fifth-largest political party in the country
The Constitution Party is the fifth-largest political party in the United States. It was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, after President George H. W. Bush went back on his pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". The party is rooted in an ultra-conservative political platform that promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution.
The Constitution Party was established as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in 1992 and was officially recognised by the Federal Election Commission in 1996. In 1999, delegates to the party's national convention changed its name to the Constitution Party. The party has a conservative political platform that is focused on restoring the Federal Government to the Constitution's provisions. It is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and shaped by principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible.
The party's platform includes support for the right of citizens to keep and bear arms, opposition to federal aid, foreign aid, and national healthcare, and opposition to abortion and euthanasia. They also assert that civil government does not have the authority to set wages and prices, and that taxation on churches and religious organisations is a dangerous step toward state control of religion.
In the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections, the party sought to nominate prominent politicians such as Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot but was unsuccessful. The party's founder, Howard Phillips, was selected as the presidential nominee in three successive elections. In 1999, New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith briefly sought the party's nomination before dropping out. In 2000, a schism occurred within the party, with members who advocated for an explicitly religious party leaving to form the Christian Liberty Party (then known as the American Heritage Party).
As of 2019, the Constitution Party was a ballot-qualified party in 14 states.
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The party is ultra-conservative and promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
The Constitution Party, formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party, is an ultra-conservative political party in the United States. The party was founded by conservative activist Howard Phillips after President George H. W. Bush went back on his pledge not to introduce new taxes. The Constitution Party promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution.
The party platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and is shaped by principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible. The party advocates for a strict constructionist view of constitutional interpretation, emphasising limited government, states' rights, and individual liberties. They believe in a much smaller role for the federal government, particularly in healthcare, education, and welfare. This sets them apart from the Democratic Party, which advocates for a more active government in these areas. The Constitution Party also takes a more conservative stance than the Republican Party on certain issues, such as spending, abortion, and gun rights.
The Constitution Party has been described as a spoiler for the Republican Party, and there have been instances of the Democratic Party helping Constitution Party candidates to gain an advantage over their Republican opponents. In 1999, New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith briefly sought the presidential nomination of the Constitution Party before dropping out. In 2000, a schism occurred within the Constitution Party, with those who wanted an explicitly religious party leaving to form the Christian Liberty Party, then known as the American Heritage Party. In the same year, Rick Jore, a member of the Montana House of Representatives, became the first member of the Constitution Party to hold a seat in a state legislature.
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The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist
The Constitution Party is an ultra-conservative political party in the United States. It was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, in 1992. Phillips established the party, originally named the U.S. Taxpayers' Party, to offer America leadership committed to restoring the Federal Republic to its delegated, enumerated Constitutional functions. He sought to return American jurisprudence to its original “common law” Biblical foundations. The party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and is shaped by principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible.
Howard Phillips was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1941. He was the son of Jewish parents and later converted to Christianity, remaining a devout Christian for the rest of his life. Phillips graduated from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1962, and was twice elected as chairman of the Student Council. During his political career, he played a key role in various conservative movements and organisations. He formed The Conservative Caucus (TCC) in 1974 to provide conservatives with a nationwide grassroots voice. He also coordinated efforts to build private sector support for anti-communist freedom fighters in Central America and southern Africa during the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1999, the name of the U.S. Taxpayers' Party was changed to the "Constitution Party" to better reflect its primary focus on returning the government to the provisions and limitations of the U.S. Constitution. Phillips was chosen as the party's presidential candidate in 2000. He had previously been nominated as the USTP candidate for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Phillips also served as President of The Conservative Caucus Research, Analysis & Education Foundation. Outside of politics, he authored four books: "The New Right at Harvard" (1983), "Moscow’s Challenge to U.S. Vital Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa" (1987), "The Next Four Years" (1992), and "Victory 2000" (1999).
Howard Phillips passed away in April 2013, leaving behind a legacy as a courageous founder and leader of the Constitution Party, and a valiant patriot to many Americans.
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The party supports the right to bear arms and opposes federal aid and national healthcare
The Constitution Party is an ultra-conservative political party in the United States. It is the fifth-largest political party in the country and was established as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in 1992. The party platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and is shaped by principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible.
The Constitution Party supports the right to bear arms, a right that is protected by the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment states that "a well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The interpretation of this Amendment has been a subject of debate, with some arguing that it creates an individual constitutional right to possess firearms, while others contend that it was intended to restrict Congress from legislating away a state's right to self-defence. The Court has strengthened Second Amendment protections in cases such as McDonald v. City of Chicago and District of Columbia v. Heller, upholding the individual right to bear arms for self-defence.
In contrast to the Democratic Party, the Constitution Party opposes federal aid and national healthcare. The Democratic Party supports government-funded healthcare to ensure accessibility for all citizens. They also generally support women's legal right to free abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to equal treatment. The Constitution Party, with its religious conservative stance, diverges from these positions.
The Constitution Party has not had a prominent politician seek its presidential nomination in recent years. In the 2020 presidential election, the party nominated anti-abortion activist Randall Terry for president and Stephen Broden for vice president. Some state chapters, such as Nevada and Utah, rejected these nominations and instead nominated Joel Skousen. The party has been described as a spoiler for the Republican Party, and there have been instances of the Democratic Party helping Constitution Party candidates to hinder Republican candidates.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are. The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States that promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution. In 2000, Rick Jore, a member of the Montana House of Representatives, left the Republican Party and joined the Constitution Party.
The Constitution Party is a conservative party that upholds the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. They oppose federal aid, foreign aid, and national healthcare. They also oppose any form of taxation on churches and other religious organizations.
The Constitution Party is the fifth-largest political party in the United States. It is a recognized third party with ballot access in 14 states as of 2019. The party has participated in presidential elections, with candidates such as Howard Phillips and Curtis Frazier.
The Constitution Party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, after President George H. W. Bush broke his pledge of "no new taxes." The party was known as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party until 1999 when it changed its name.
