Simone Lawson
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States. It was founded in 1992 by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party. The party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and advocates for limited government intervention, individual freedoms, and strong conservative stands on social issues. As of 2019, it was a ballot-qualified party in 14 states and ranked as the fifth-largest political party in the US. Members and candidates of the Constitution Party are expected to recognize the importance of demonstrating good character in their own lives.
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution Party is a minor party in the US
The Constitution Party is a minor political party in the United States. It was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by Howard Phillips, a conservative political activist. Phillips had left the Republican Party in 1974, believing it was not conservative enough. The Constitution Party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Bible. The party advocates for limited government, individual freedoms, and a strong conservative stance on social issues such as abortion, immigration, and welfare.
The Constitution Party has gained some electoral success, with 28 members elected to city council and other municipal offices as of June 2024. It achieved major party status in Colorado after the 2010 gubernatorial election, where its candidate received over 36% of the popular vote. The party has also faced internal divisions, with a schism occurring in 2000 over the party's religious nature, and disagreements over abortion policy leading to the disaffiliation of the Constitution Party of Oregon in 2006.
The Constitution Party's presidential nominees have included Michael Peroutka in 2004, Chuck Baldwin in 2008, and Virgil Goode in 2012. The party has a strong stance on abortion, believing that Roe v. Wade is illegitimate and that abortion should be made illegal nationwide. They also support the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which allows Congress to tax income, and the Seventeenth Amendment, which mandates the direct election of Senators.
As a minor party, the Constitution Party faces challenges in gaining widespread support and influencing policy. However, it offers an alternative for voters dissatisfied with the dominant Republican and Democratic parties, particularly those seeking a more conservative and religiously-oriented platform. The party's focus on broad principles and commitment to restoring the federal government to its Constitutional provisions have attracted a dedicated following, contributing to its status as the fifth-largest political party in the United States.
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It was founded by Howard Phillips in 1992
The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 by Howard Phillips, a veteran conservative political activist. Phillips had been involved with the Republican Party since his early teens, serving as chairman of the Boston Republican Party and as a staff member at the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C. However, he left the Republican Party in 1974, feeling that it was not conservative enough for him.
In 1992, Phillips formed the U.S. Taxpayers Party, which would later be renamed the Constitution Party in 1999. The party was established in response to a perceived shift away from limited and empowered local government and broad individual freedoms. Phillips' new party committed itself to stopping all federal expenditures not authorized by the U.S. Constitution and restoring powers, programs, and revenue sources to the states. The party also took strong conservative stances on social issues, such as advocating for a total ban on abortion, a moratorium on immigration, and the abolition of all welfare programs.
During the 1992 presidential election, Phillips ran as the party's candidate, with Albion Knight as his running mate. They managed to get on the ballot in 21 states and received approximately 40,000 votes. In 1996, Phillips ran again, this time with Herb Titus as his running mate, and they expanded their reach to 39 states, winning 182,000 votes. The Federal Election Commission officially recognized the Constitution Party in 1996, and it has since become the fifth-largest political party in the United States.
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It was originally called the US Taxpayers' Party
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States, founded by conservative activist Howard Phillips. It was originally called the US Taxpayers Party, and was established in 1992. The name was changed to the Constitution Party in 1999.
The US Taxpayers Party was formed in response to President George H. W. Bush breaking his pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". The party's platform was 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 promoted a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the US Constitution.
The US Taxpayers Party's stated platform included 19 main issues. These included affirming the "God-given legal personhood of all unborn human beings, without exception", opposing taxes in excess of the minimum needed to fund the government, and supporting restitution instead of incarceration for crimes against property. The party also sought to address the issue of ballot access, arguing that the current requirements for a party to gain ballot access are prohibitively expensive, hindering the voice of the people and the free flow of political ideas.
In the 1992 presidential election, the US Taxpayers Party selected Howard Phillips as its presidential nominee, and Albion W. Knight Jr. as its vice-presidential nominee. In the general election, they placed seventh with 43,400 votes. Following the election, the party had ballot-qualified state affiliates in California, New Mexico, and South Carolina. In 1996, Phillips was again selected as the party's presidential nominee, with Herbert Titus as his vice-presidential running mate. In the 1996 election, they placed sixth with 184,820 votes.
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It is a conservative party with a religious bent
The Constitution Party is a conservative political party founded by Howard Phillips, a veteran conservative political activist. Phillips left the Republican Party in 1974, believing it to be insufficiently conservative. The Constitution Party was established as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in 1992, with a primarily fiscal purpose. The party committed itself to stopping all federal expenditures not authorized by the U.S. Constitution and restoring powers, programs, and revenue sources to the states.
The Constitution Party takes a strongly conservative stance on a range of social issues. It advocates for a return to the principles it believes were set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible. The party's platform includes support for the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which allows Congress to tax income from interest, dividends, and capital gains, and the Seventeenth Amendment, which mandates the direct election of Senators. The Constitution Party also supports the abolition of all welfare programs and is firmly anti-abortion, stating that "Roe v. Wade is illegitimate, contrary to the law of the nation's Charter and Constitution."
The party's religious bent is evident in its 2000 National Platform, which states, "The U.S. Constitution established a Republic under God, rather than a democracy. Our Republic is a nation governed by a Constitution that is rooted in Biblical law, administered by representatives who are Constitutionally elected by the citizens." The party affirms the principles of inherent individual rights and maintains that parents have the right to educate their children in the manner they deem best, including through home, private, or religious schooling.
The Constitution Party has a presence in multiple states across the U.S., with elected officials in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Oregon, among others. As of June 2024, the party had 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices nationwide. The party ranks fifth among national parties in terms of registered members.
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It is the fifth-largest party in the US
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States. It is the fifth-largest party in the country in terms of registered members. The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party. Phillips established the party in response to President George H. W. Bush's violation of his "no new taxes" pledge and his perception that the Republican Party was not conservative enough.
The Constitution Party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and shaped by principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible. The party advocates for limiting the federal government to its Constitutional boundaries and restoring civil government to the fundamental principles the nation was founded upon. This includes supporting the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which allows Congress to tax income, and the Seventeenth Amendment, which mandates the direct election of Senators. The party also takes conservative stands on social issues, such as advocating for a ban on abortion, a moratorium on immigration, and the abolition of welfare programs.
The Constitution Party has gained recognition and made electoral strides over the years. It achieved FEC-recognized national party status in 1996 and, as of September 2019, was a ballot-qualified party in 14 states. During the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election, the party's affiliate in Colorado, the American Constitution Party, garnered over 36% of the popular vote, achieving major party status in the state. As of June 2024, the Constitution Party has 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States.
The Constitution Party's influence and growth demonstrate the appeal of its conservative and originalist platform to a significant portion of the American electorate. While it is a minor or "third" party, it has established itself as a notable force in American politics, providing an alternative to the dominant Republican and Democratic parties.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States. It was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist. The party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and advocates for limited government intervention, individual freedoms, and conservative social policies.
The Constitution Party believes in restoring the Federal Government to the Constitution's provisions. They support the repeal of certain amendments, voluntary state membership in the Union, and the abolition of federal pay and pensions for members of Congress. The party also takes conservative stands on social issues, such as abortion, immigration, and welfare.
Howard Phillips, the founder of the party, was its presidential candidate in 1992, 1996, and 2000. Other notable presidential nominees include Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot, Michael Peroutka, Chuck Baldwin, Virgil Goode, and Darrell Castle. In 2010, the party's affiliate in Colorado, the American Constitution Party, gave its gubernatorial nomination to Tom Tancredo, who received over 36% of the popular vote.
