Constitution Party Members: Where Are They?

The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States. It was founded by conservative activist Howard Phillips in response to President George H. W. Bush's violation of his pledge not to raise taxes. The party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the US Constitution and principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Bible. As of 2019, it was a ballot-qualified party in 14 states and ranked as the fifth-largest party in the US. The Constitution Party's members and supporters advocate for limited government, individual liberties, and traditional values. They oppose federal interference in state affairs, foreign entanglements, and abortion. The party has seen varying levels of success in different states, with notable achievements in Colorado and Minnesota.

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The Constitution Party is a conservative political party in the US

The Constitution Party is a conservative political party in the United States. It was founded by conservative activist Howard Phillips after President George H. W. Bush violated his pledge not to raise taxes. The party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the US Constitution and is shaped by principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible. The party supports individual liberty, limited government, and strict interpretation of the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.

The Constitution Party has a significant presence in multiple states, including Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oregon. In 2002, the Constitution Party of Minnesota and Colorado achieved major party status. During the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election, the American Constitution Party's candidate, Tom Tancredo, received over 36% of the popular vote, more than the 10% required for major party status in Colorado. This allowed the party to appoint 17 members to Colorado state boards and commissions.

The Constitution Party has had some success in elections, with members elected to various municipal and state-level positions. In 2006, Rick Jore became the first Constitution Party candidate to be elected to a state legislature in Montana. Greg Moeller was the first member of the party to win a partisan election in 2002, when he was elected as a Scott Township Trustee in Iowa. As of June 2024, the party has 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the US.

The Constitution Party holds conservative positions on various social and economic issues. They oppose federal aid, foreign aid, and national healthcare. The party also opposes any form of taxation on churches and religious organizations, believing it infringes on religious liberties. The Constitution Party supports the right to bear arms and stands against laws requiring the registration of guns or ammunition. Additionally, they oppose abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research.

It has a strong presence in Colorado and Minnesota

The Constitution Party has a strong presence in Colorado and Minnesota. In 2010, the American Constitution Party, the Constitution Party's affiliate in Colorado, gave its gubernatorial nomination to Tom Tancredo, who received over 36% of the popular vote. This was more than the 10% required for major party status in Colorado. The Constitution Party of Minnesota has also achieved major party status once.

The Constitution Party is a conservative political party that was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, in response to a perceived shift away from "limited and empowered local government, and very broad and significant individual freedoms." The party platform is based on originalist interpretations of the US Constitution and shaped by principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible.

The party's core values include a strong opposition to federal government intervention in state affairs, protection of religious liberties, and support for the right to bear arms. They also uphold the right of citizens to keep and bear arms, opposing any attempts to prohibit gun ownership by law-abiding citizens. Additionally, the party believes in limiting the federal government to its delegated Constitutional functions and asserts that civil governments must not intrude on the private property of individual citizens without due process.

The Constitution Party has had a notable impact in Colorado and Minnesota, with a significant number of members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices in these states. As of June 2024, the party had 28 members elected to such positions across the United States, and it ranked as the fifth-largest political party in the country in terms of registered members.

The party was founded by Howard Phillips

The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States. It was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party. The party's foundation was in response to a perceived shift away from "limited and empowered local government, and very broad and significant individual freedoms." The party sought to uphold the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Howard Phillips, the founder of the Constitution Party, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, and spent his early years in Orlando, Florida. He attended Harvard University, graduating in 1923 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Phillips had a long career in politics before founding the party. He served the Republican Party in various roles, including precinct worker, election warden, campaign manager, and congressional aide. In 1970, he was the Republican nominee for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. However, in 1974, Phillips left the Republican Party and founded the Conservative Caucus, a nationwide grassroots public policy advocacy group.

In 1992, Phillips founded the U.S. Taxpayers Party, which later became the Constitution Party in 1999. The party nominated Phillips as its presidential candidate in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 elections. Phillips was a strong advocate for constitutional government and conservative values. He refused to support the Republican or Democratic candidates in the 1992 election, demonstrating his commitment to his beliefs.

Phillips resided in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. suburbs with his wife, Margaret "Peggy" Blanchard. He passed away at his home in Vienna, Virginia, in 2013 at the age of 72.

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It upholds the right to bear arms and opposes federal interference

The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States that was founded by conservative activist Howard Phillips after President George H. W. Bush violated his pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". 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 upholds the right to bear arms and opposes federal interference.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: "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." This amendment was influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and English common law, which recognised the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution Party of California calls for the repeal of all federal firearms legislation, including the Federal Firearms Act of 1968, and opposes any executive orders or treaty ratifications that would limit the right to keep and bear arms. They also propose the elimination of all government-designated "Gun-Free Zones", including military bases, and support well-regulated militias at the state level.

The right to bear arms has been interpreted as an individual right and as a collective right. Advocates of the collective rights model argue that the Second Amendment was intended to prevent the federal government from disarming state militias, rather than securing an individual right to possess firearms. This interpretation was endorsed by circuit courts until 2001, when the Fifth Circuit's opinion in United States v. Emerson recognised an individual right to bear arms. The personal right to bear arms was also seen as a check against governmental tyranny during the Revolutionary period.

The Constitution Party has a presence in multiple states across the United States, including California, Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, and Iowa. As of June 2024, the party has 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices nationwide, and it ranked fifth among national parties in terms of registered members as of September 2019. The Constitution Party of Minnesota and Colorado have both achieved major party status once, and the American Constitution Party in Colorado gained over 36% of the popular vote in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

It is against abortion and supports religious liberties

The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States, founded by conservative activist Howard Phillips. It is the fifth-largest political party in the country and had 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the US as of June 2024. The party's platform is based on originalist interpretations of the US Constitution and is shaped by principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Bible.

Abortion

The Constitution Party is firmly against abortion, with a stance of being 100% Pro-Life. The party believes that life is the first right affirmed and protected by the Constitution, as outlined in the 5th and 14th Amendments. They oppose abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and also reject the funding and legalization of bio-research involving human embryonic or pre-embryonic cells.

Religious Liberties

The Constitution Party receives substantial support from Christian Right organizations and claims to be the "philosophical home" of the Tea Party. The party supports the right to bear arms in accordance with the Second Amendment and opposes any laws that would infringe upon this right. They also uphold the right of citizens to keep and bear arms, as they believe it is inherent in the right of self-defence and defence of liberty, as granted by their Creator. The party has attracted notable figures in the anti-abortion movement, such as Dr Gregory Thompson, Lon Mabon, and Paul deParrie.

The party's stance on religious liberties is reflected in its support for the separation of church and state, as outlined in the First Amendment to the Constitution. They believe that the government should not interfere in the religious expressions of its citizens and that religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square. The party's mission includes upholding the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, which guarantees certain freedoms, including religious liberty.

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