Constitution Party (United States)

"Taxpayers Party" redirects here. For the New York party, see Taxpayers Party of New York.
"American Constitution Party" redirects here. For the Colorado party, see American Constitution Party (Colorado).
The Constitution Party
Chairperson Frank Fluckiger
Founded 1991 (1991) (as U.S. Taxpayers' Party)
1999 (1999) (as Constitution Party)
Headquarters 408 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603.
Membership  (October 2016) 92,483[1]
Ideology Paleoconservatism[2][3]
Christian right[4]
Fiscal conservatism[4]
Protectionism[5][6]
Social conservatism[4]
Isolationism[7][8]
Non-interventionism[9][10]
Political position Right-wing[11][12]
to Far-right[13][14][15][16][17]
Colors Red, white, and blue (national colors)
Seats in the Senate
0 / 100
Seats in the House
0 / 435
Governorships
0 / 50
State Upper House Seats
0 / 1,972
State Lower House Seats
0 / 5,411
Other elected offices 23 (2016)[18]
Website
www.constitutionparty.com

The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States.[2][3] The party advocates a platform which reflects the party's interpretation of the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Bible.

The party believes that the United States is a Christian state founded on the basis of the Bible and that jurisprudence should be restored to what the party claims is its "Biblical foundations".[19] Its critics have described it—and its predecessor, the U.S. Taxpayers Party—as a theocratic and dominionist party.[20][21] The party does not, however, oppose the constitutional ban on religious tests for holding public office.[22]

As of October 2016, the Constitution Party has 18 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States. In terms of registered members, the party ranks fifth among national parties in the United States.[23]

History

The party was founded as the "U.S. Taxpayers' Party" by Howard Phillips in 1991.[24] Phillips was also the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections. The party's name was changed to the Constitution Party in 1999; however, some state affiliate parties are known under different names. The party's platform is predicated on the party's understanding of the original intent of the nation's founding documents.[25] The party absorbed the American Independent Party, which was founded for George Wallace's 1968 presidential campaign. The Constitution Party receives substantial support from Christian Right organizations and claims to be the "philosophical home" of the Tea Party.[26] The Constitution Party candidate, former congressman Tom Tancredo, came in second place, with 617,030 votes, in the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election with 36.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican Dan Maes with 11.1%. In 2006, Rick Jore, of the then recently disaffiliated Constitution Party of Montana, was elected to the Montana House of Representatives with 56.2% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jeanne Windham.

Affiliated organizations

The following table displays select Constitution Party state affiliate parties, chapters, and organizations.

Table: Affiliates of the U.S. Constitution Party
All affiliates state in their platforms support for strict adherence to the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution. Many also specifically add their home state constitutions to the mix.
State Affiliate Name Headquarters City Chapter Chairperson Year Chapter founded Comments
Alabama Constitution Party of Alabama (CPAL)[27] Montgomery Joshua Cassity
Alaska Constitution Party of Alaska Soldotna J.R. Myers 2010[28] The Alaskan Independence Party ended its affiliation in January 2013.
Arizona Constitution Party of Arizona[29] Glendale Ivan Brown 1992 May endorse candidates from other parties if they are in agreement with Constitution Party principles and if there is no Constitution Party candidate for the office. Had official write-in status for 2016 Presidential election.
Arkansas Constitution Party of Arkansas (CPAR)[30] Fayetteville Tom Mayfield
California Constitution Party of California Gary Odom 1967 From 1992 until 2008, the American Independent Party was the California Constitution Party affiliate.
Colorado American Constitution Party[31] Arvada Doug Aden 2000 The American Constitution Party's more than 10% vote-share in the 2010 gubernatorial election elevated the party from "minor" to "major" status. (Any party that earns 10% or more of the votes cast for governor is a defined under statute as a "major party.")[32]
Connecticut Constitution Party of Connecticut Plantsville Rick Moreau 1976 Predates the founding of Constitution Party (founded in the mid-1970s). It was known as the Concerned Citizens Party until it disbanded in April 2013.
Delaware Constitution Party of Delaware (CPDE) Bear Pell Sherman
Florida Constitution Party of Florida Hollywood Bill Wayland
Georgia Constitution Party of Georgia[33] Woodstock Ricardo C. Davis
Hawaii Constitution Party of Hawaii Honolulu Dave Wethington
Idaho Constitution Party of Idaho[34] Coeur d'Alene F.W. Whitley[35] 1999 It is one of two minor political parties (along with the Libertarian Party of Idaho) which has ballot access in Idaho.[36]

In 2016, the party ran a presidential ticket consisting of Scott Copeland and J.R. Meyers, the first- and second-place winners of the state's presidential primary on the ballot in the state of Idaho in lieu of the national Castle/Bradley ticket.[37]

Illinois Illinois Constitution Party (CPIL)[38] Metropolis Randy Stufflebeam[39] The party's first elected official is Phil Collins, Trustee of Libertyville Township in Lake County, Illinois on April 9, 2013.[40]
Indiana Constitution Party of Indiana (CPIN)[41] Evansville Steven Walker
Iowa Constitution Party of Iowa[42] Eldon Marvin Creech
Kansas Constitution Party of Kansas Wichita Barry Sullivan
Kentucky Constitution Party of Kentucky[43] Lexington Mike Ward
Louisiana Constitution Party of Louisiana Eunice Ronnie Broughton 2012 The Constitution Party of Louisiana was re-established as a political party in Louisiana on March 26, 2012. The party officials at that time were State Chairman: Peter Vidrine, State Co-Chairman: Scott Vige, State Vice-Chairman: Randy Fontenot.

The party's first elected officials are Ronnie Broughton who was re-elected unopposed for his fourth term on the Webster Parish School Board on November 4, 2014, and Randy Fontenot who was elected as the Chief of Police of Eunice, Louisiana on December 17, 2014.

Maine
Maryland Marylanders for Constitutional Governance[44] Rockville Michael Bertocchi ~ 1996 In 2008, the party was recognized by the Maryland State Board of Elections as a party.[45] Candidates had ballot access in every presidential election from 1996 to 2008.
Massachusetts Constitution Party of Massachusetts[46] Framingham Scott Liftman
Michigan U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan[47] William Mohr 1992 Kept the "Taxpayers' Party" name in order to retain ballot status in the state. The party is one of six 'ballot-qualified' parties in Michigan.[48] The ballot line on which the party ran in its first election (1992) was the "Tisch Independent Citizens' Party".

In 2010 several officers, including board members and the Communications Officer, left the party over a gubernatorial candidate scandal. The party's candidate for governor did not deny visiting a nudist resort. Reports were that she took part in an attempt to set the world record for "Skinny Dip Across North America."

Minnesota The Constitution Party of Minnesota[49] Bruce Johnson The national party's paleoconservative affiliate in Minnesota[50]
Mississippi Constitution Party of Mississippi[51] Guntown Leslie Riley
Missouri Constitution Party of Missouri[52] Piedmont Doug Enyart
Montana Constitution Party of Montana[53] Bozeman Travis Orback [54] Founded as an arm of the American Heritage Party; changed its name in 2000.[55] Affiliated with national Constitution Party 1995–July 2006; and May 14, 2011–present.[56] Rick Jore was the first party member to be elected to the state legislature in 2006, and was later appointed chairman of the House Education Committee .
Nebraska Nebraska Party[57] Lincoln Karl Gaiser Had changed its name to "The Nebraska Independent Party", and then back to "Nebraska Party".[58] The party had candidates for state-wide offices placed on ballots from 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
Nevada Independent American Party of Nevada[59] Elko Joel Hansen[60] 1967 Is one of four Constitution state parties that has not changed its name to "Constitution Party" since the national party adopted that name. It is not to be confused with the national party of the same name.[61] The Nevada IAP's name predates the national Constitution Party by decades.
New Jersey Constitution Party of New Jersey Palmyra Larry Berlinski
New Mexico Constitution Party of New Mexico Los Lunas Robert M. Bowen
New York Constitution Party of New York Buffalo Gary Gunsher
North Carolina Constitution Party of North Carolina Charlotte Al Pisano
Ohio Constitution Party of Ohio Eaton Donald Shrader
Oklahoma Constitution Party of Oklahoma Meeker Thom Holmes
Pennsylvania Constitution Party of Pennsylvania Osceola Bob Goodrich
South Carolina Constitution Party of South Carolina[62] Greenville Ted Adams Achieved ballot access for its presidential candidate in every presidential election from 1992 to 2016.
South Dakota Constitution Party of South Dakota Brandon Lori Stacey
Tennessee Constitution Party of Tennessee[63] Germantown Zachary Poskevich
Texas Constitution Party of Texas[64] Bob Eoff 1996 Started under the auspices of the U.S. Taxpayers' Party – the precursor to the Constitution Party – under which it achieved its only ballot line, in 1996
Utah Constitution Party of Utah[65] Layton Bryce Hamilton One of only three political parties guaranteed ballot access in Utah for the 2008 elections[66]
Washington Constitution Party of Washington Spokane Valley Robert W. Peck ~ 1996 This branch was founded as the "Washington U.S. Taxpayers' Party"; it changed its name to the "American Heritage Party" in 1998; and to its current name in 2000.[67]
West Virginia Constitution Party of West Virginia[68] New Haven James McCormick 2000[69] The party was organized on June 12, 2004, at its first formal meeting in Morgantown.[70] West Virginia election law requires that a candidate for governor win at least 1% of the entire gubernatorial vote to secure his or her nominating party's future ballot access.[71] Until such time, the affiliation of voters is not formally recognized as a political party.
Wisconsin Constitution Party of Wisconsin Andrew Zuelke 1991 Founded as a unit of the U.S. Taxpayers Party.[72]
Wyoming Constitution Party of Wyoming[73] Wheatland Bill Motley 2010

Changes in affiliation

In January 2013, Oregon re-affiliated with the national party. The Constitution Party of Montana re-affiliated with the national party in 2011. According to the party website, since November 2012, the Alaskan Independence Party has not been an affiliate.

The Nebraska Party

The Nebraska state affiliate of the Constitution Party[74] is called the "Nebraska Party." The party had candidates for statewide offices placed on ballots from 2002 to 2008.

The stated mission of the Nebraska Party is: "... to restore economic prosperity to all Nebraskans, to restore the Christian Principles of our Forefathers, and to get the Government back in the hands of the people. The Nebraska Party is founded on the principles of the Democrat-Republican Party, which was established in the early 1800s by Thomas Jefferson. The Democrat-Republican Party, now the Nebraska Party, represents the people, the working people (labor), family farmers, small business and, of course, our senior citizens".

North Carolina

The Constitution Party branches in North Carolina and several other states adhere to what they proclaim as the "Seven Essential Core Values." These core values are defined as: the Sanctity of Life, Religious Freedom, Traditional Family, Private Property Rights, Pro-Second Amendment, National Sovereignty, and Anti-Socialism.[75] The party claims to be the state's only truly 100% Pro-Life political party.[75]

West Virginia

The origins of the state party can be traced to October 2000, when founding member Brenda Donnellan and activists from Wood County served as plaintiffs in Phillips v Hechler, civ 6:00-894.[69] This litigation resulted in a November 3, 2000, ruling against then Secretary of State Ken Hechler, forcing him to allow Constitution Party presidential nominee, Howard Phillips, to run as a declared write-in (WI) candidate without paying a filing fee.[76]

The 1964 Constitution Party presidential nominee, Joseph B. Lightburn, was a neighbor of Donnellan's in Jane Lew, where he owned a local general store. Lightburn served as National Committeeman for the Constitution Party of West Virginia,[77] but the original party had long been defunct. There was no connection between the two.

Voter registration issues

Because the party has not yet attained ballot qualification status, voters registering into it must check the "Other Party" box on the West Virginia voter registration form[78] and write the word "Constitution" on the line. Voter registration status can be checked on at the Secretary of State's website.[79]

Because the Constitution Party is not a major party in the state, its voters are permitted to vote in the primary but must take the initiative to ask for either a Republican or Democratic party ballot in lieu of the standard non-partisan ballot.[80]

State disaffiliations

In early 2006, Christopher H. Hansen, the gubernatorial candidate of Independent American Party of Nevada (the former Constitution Party state affiliate in Nevada), and candidates in Colorado and Idaho, publicly expressed support for allowing abortions in the cases of rape, incest, and for those performed to save the life of the mother, a contrary view to the official Nevada platform. At the party's April 2008 national convention in Tampa, Florida, the assembly voted not to disaffiliate Nevada, citing that affiliate's official position on the issue and the national party's policy against dictating the internal affairs (such as electing leaders) of any affiliate. They also made it more difficult to introduce a disaffiliation resolution. The Oregon and Montana affiliates voluntarily disaffiliated from the party later that year. The Constitution Party of Nevada was created on October 15, 2013, in response to the controversies.

Mergers and re-alignments discussed

Reports that the Constitution Party discussed a realignment or merger with[81] several third parties, including the Reform Party, Independent American Party, American Independent Party, and the America First Party, have been refuted by some of the purported discussion participants.[82] Nevertheless, all of the aforementioned parties, except for the Reform Party, endorsed Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party as their presidential candidate in 2004.

Platform

For comparison with other parties, see Comparison of politics of parties of the United States.

Current platform

The 2016–2020 Platform of the Constitution Party is available for download on the party's website.[83][84] It has 31 planks.[83]

Platform topics

The 2016 preamble of the Constitution Party platform "gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of these United States,"[83] and supports the constitutional provision in Article VI, Section 3 that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" and calls on all those who love liberty and value their inherent rights to join with them in the pursuit of their goals.

The Constitution Party's website states that it "is the philosophical home of the TEA Party, where candidates who are committed to the same constitutional principles as most TEA Party groups can run for office without opposition from within their own party"[26] and encourages "Constitution Party leadership and candidates to work with local TEA Party and other like-minded groups to re-establish the American Constitutional Republic in their communities and states."[26] The 2016-2020 platform contains no reference to the Tea Party.

Electoral College

The Constitution Party, in the 2016 Platform, supports retaining the Electoral College and is opposed to establishing a National Popular Vote system to elect the president and vice president of the United States.[83]

Fiscal policy

The Constitution Party in 2012 supported reducing the role of the United States federal government through cutting bureaucratic regulation, reducing spending, and replacing the income tax with a tariff-based revenue system supplemented by excise taxes. The party also takes the position that the "imposition … of Federal income, payroll, and estate taxes … is an unconstitutional Federal assumption of direct taxing authority." [85]

Social Security phase-out

The Constitution Party in 2012 called for phasing out social security.[86] The 2016 platform states: "Social Security is a form of individual welfare not authorized in the Constitution."[83]

Trade and foreign policies

The Constitution Party in 2012 favored a non-interventionist foreign policy. It advocates reduction and eventual elimination of the role the United States plays in multinational and international organizations such as the United Nations, and favors withdrawal of the United States from most treaties, such as NATO, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the World Trade Organization. The party takes mercantilist positions in supporting protectionist policies on international trade.

The party also believes in exercising a tariff system to counteract the United States' increasingly negative balance of trade.[87] The tariff system would levy additional import costs, the amount of which would vary proportionally with how much lower the exporting country's production costs are compared to that of U.S. companies.

Immigration policy

The party in 2012 opposed illegal immigration and seeks stricter controls on legal immigration. It demands that the federal government implement an immigration policy disqualifying potential immigrants on grounds of ill health, criminality, low morals, or financial dependence, believing that they would impose an improper burden on the United States. The party has stated a long-term goal of a moratorium on future immigration, with exceptions only for extreme cases of necessity.[88]

The party opposes welfare subsidies and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal immigrants. It rejects the practice of bestowing U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal immigrant parents while in this country (jus soli), and rejects any extension of amnesty to illegal immigrants. The Constitution Party calls for the use of the United States military to enforce the strict immigration policy.

Social policy

The party opposes euthanasia, suicide, and abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.[89]

The party supports the ability of states to administer a death penalty:[90]

Our support of a State's option to impose the death penalty is limited to those who have been convicted of capital crimes. This is consistent with protecting innocent life because the death penalty would only be applied to those who have proven to be a threat to innocent life.

The party opposes same-sex marriage, and believes state and local governments have the right to criminalize "offensive sexual behavior."[91] The party also opposes pornography, believing it to be "a destructive element of society resulting in significant and real emotional, physical, spiritual and financial costs to individuals, families and communities," and distinguishable from the US citizen's "cherished First Amendment right to free speech." While expressing its belief in the individual responsibility of citizens and corporations, the party maintains that government plays a "vital role" in establishing and maintaining the highest level of decency in America's community standards.[92] The party opposes all government sponsorship, involvement in, or promotion of gambling.[93] Citing Article 1 Section 8 and Amendment 10, the party opposes federal anti-drug laws, while conceding that the federal government may have a role in limiting the import of drugs.[94]

The party supports the right to bear arms in accordance with the Second Amendment. The party believes that any attempt to make laws barring the second amendment is unconstitutional. It has taken a stand against the Patriot Act.

The Constitution Party believes that charitable giving is most effective when conducted by private parties. Because the authority to administer charity has not been granted to the government in the Constitution, the party maintains that the government has no business being involved in such endeavors.[95] The party opposes federal restrictions on, or subsidization of, medical treatments.[96]

The party supports English as the official language for all governmental business, opposes bilingual ballots, and insists that those who wish to take part in the electoral process and governance of the U.S. be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship.[88] The party also opposes the federal Voting Rights Act.

In 2009, the Southern Poverty Law Center described the party as a "'Patriot Group," a category of parties that "advocate or adhere to extreme anti-government doctrines."[97]

Environmental policy

The party believes that "it is our responsibility to be prudent, productive, and efficient stewards of God’s natural resources."[98] With respect to global warming, it says that "globalists are using the global warming threat to gain more control via worldwide sustainable development." According to the party, eminent domain is unlawful because "under no circumstances may the federal government take private property, by means of rules and regulations which preclude or substantially reduce the productive use of the property, even with just compensation."[98]

In regards to energy, the party calls 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," and calls for the abolition of the Department of Energy.[99]

Federalism

The party supports the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which allows Congress to tax income, and the Seventeenth Amendment, which requires the direct (popular) election of Senators.[100] The party holds that each state's membership in the Union is voluntary,[101] a stance known as the Compact theory.

Notable members and allies

CPWVa symbol

Pat Buchanan threatened in 1996 to run as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party candidate if Bob Dole chose a pro-choice running mate. Dole chose pro-life Jack Kemp and received Buchanan's endorsement. Buchanan's 2000 Reform Party running mate Ezola B. Foster switched her membership to the Constitution Party in 2002. Buchanan stated on the September 7, 2004 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews, "There is a chance I would vote for [Michael] Peroutka."[102] However, he later wrote an endorsement of President George W. Bush in the pages of The American Conservative.[103]

U.S. Senator Bob Smith announced his switch from Republican to the U.S. Taxpayers Party in 1999 to seek its 2000 presidential nomination. Smith later charged that anti-New World Order ideologues within the party resisted his candidacy due to his Roman Catholicism. He left the party after one month and continued his campaign as a non-partisan independent but ceased the campaign soon thereafter and returned to the Republican Party to assume a Senate committee chairmanship. In 2008, he began writing editorials on the Constitution Party's web page, fueling speculation that he would seek its presidential nomination again, despite endorsing Rep. Duncan Hunter for the Republican nomination. He requested that his name be withheld from consideration in a March 2008 letter to Constitution Party supporters.

Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist ran for Congress with the American Independent Party in 2005, but has since rejoined the Republican Party.[104]

Author and WorldNetDaily columnist Jerome Corsi launched a brief campaign for the 2008 nomination, but in July 2007 decided to return to writing.[105] Former Reagan Administration official and devout Catholic activist Alan Keyes had actively sought the Constitution candidacy after ending a bid for the GOP nomination.[106]

The party has attracted notables in the anti-abortion movement such as Gregory Thompson,[107] Lon Mabon,[108] Paul deParrie, and Missionaries to the Preborn leader Pastor Matthew Trewhella.[109] However, many such notables were involved in the below-mentioned disaffiliation efforts over abortion, and it remains unclear what effect the movement has upon the reorganized rump affiliates.

A 2008 candidate for the Republican nomination, Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas), endorsed several third party candidates shortly after he bowed out of the race. He later endorsed 2008 Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin.[110] The unaffiliated Constitution Party of Montana replaced Baldwin with Paul for president and Michael Peroutka for vice president. Paul requested that Montana remove his name from the ballot, but the Secretary of State of Montana denied his request, stating that the request was sent too late.[111]

In 2010, former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo ran for governor of Colorado as a Constitutionalist. He received 36.8% of the vote, finishing in second place. Despite losing the election, Tancredo managed to secure major party status for the Constitution Party in Colorado by surpassing the 10% of the gubernatorial election vote needed to qualify as a major party.[112]

In 2006, Rick Jore of Montana became the first Constitution Party candidate elected to a state-level office by winning election to the Montana House of Representatives.[113][114]

Ronnie Broughton, a past president and current member of the Webster Parish School Board in Minden, Louisiana, is the chairman of his state's Constitution Party and one of the few party members holding public office in Louisiana.[115]

Roy Moore, the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who was notably suspended twice in 2003 and 2016 for refusing to comply with court orders regarding the display of the Ten Commandments and the issuing of same-sex marriage licenses, had been courted by the Constitution Party to run as their candidate in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 presidential elections.[116][117]

Candidates

Former Republican Representative Virgil Goode (VA-5) was nominated at the convention in Nashville, Tennessee on April 22, 2012.[118] Goode received 203 votes; 202 were required for a majority. Darrell Castle of Tennessee, national vice chairman of the Constitution Party, came in second with 120 votes. Other candidates who received votes were Robby Wells from North Carolina, former football coach at Savannah State University; Dr. Laurie Roth of Washington state, a radio talk-show host; and Susan Ducey of Kansas, a Registered Nurse.[119]

On April 16, 2016, Darrell Castle secured the presidential nomination for the Constitution Party at a convention attended by delegates from 28 states.[120][121] He has vowed, if elected, to get the United States out of the United Nations and NATO.[121] "Our borders are worth defending. If we can secure the borders of Korea and Germany, then we can secure the borders of the United States," said Castle.[120] In his nomination acceptance speech, Castle made no reference to the unspecified health reasons that had earlier led him to withdraw his name from consideration.[120][122][123] Since accepting the nomination, Castle has given several interviews to media, but his campaign website lists no public campaign appearances.[124]

Presidential tickets

Electoral results

President

Election year Candidate States with
ballot access		 # of overall votes % of overall vote # of electoral votes +/-
1992 Howard Phillips 21 43,369 <0.1%
0 / 538
1996 Howard Phillips 38 182,820 0.2%
0 / 538
 Steady 0
2000 Howard Phillips 41 98,020 0.1%
0 / 538
 Steady 0
2004 Michael Peroutka 36 143,630 0.1%
0 / 538
 Steady 0
2008 Chuck Baldwin* 37 199,750 0.2%
0 / 538
 Steady 0
2012 Virgil Goode 26 122,388 0.1%
0 / 538
 Steady 0
2016 Darrell Castle† 27 198,576 0.1%
0 / 538
 Steady 0

 • The Constitution Party of Montana nominated Ron Paul in 2008 in lieu of Baldwin.  Paul received 10,638 votes in Montana and 42,426 nationwide.[125]

daggerThe Constitution Party of Idaho nominated Scott Copeland of Texas for President and J.R. Myers of Alaska for Vice President in 2016 in lieu of Castle and his running mate, Scott Bradley. The Castle/Bradley ticket was on the Idaho ballot with no party affiliation.[126] The Copeland/Myers ticket received 2,381 votes in Idaho.[127]

House of Representatives

Election year # of overall votes % of overall vote # of representatives +/-
2000 122,936 0.1%
0 / 435
2002 99,306 0.1%
0 / 435
 Steady 0
2004 132,613 0.1%
0 / 435
 Steady 0
2006 68,031 0.1%
0 / 435
 Steady 0
2008 136,021 0.1%
0 / 435
 Steady 0
2010 123,841 0.1%
0 / 435
 Steady 0
2012 118,102 0.1%
0 / 435
 Steady 0

Senate

United States Senate
Election year # of total votes % of vote # of seats won Notes
1998 183,588 0.3% 0
2000 286,816 0.4% 0
2002 60,456 0.1% 0
2004 404,853 0.5% 0
2006 133,037 0.2% 0
2008 240,729 0.4% 0
2010 338,593 0.5% 0
2012 140,605 0.2% 0

Ballot access

Constitution Party ballot access in 2016

The following is a table of ballot status for the Constitution Party presidential nominee in 2016. [128]

The Constitution Party's website criticizes the dominance of two parties in the US electoral system, saying: "....Without all political ideologies having a place in the free marketplace of ideas, on an equal footing with the top two in power, life is like an ice cream shop that only serves two flavors – customers grow weary and no longer buy. America flourishes when its citizens have real choices with which they identify philosophically. America’s representative system of constitutional governance is doomed to fail if voters continue to be offered only vanilla and chocolate when what they really want is mint chocolate chip or a hot fudge sundae."[129]

See also

Notes

    1. ↑ Winger, Richard (21 November 2016). "New Voter Registration Nation Totals". ballot-access.org. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
    2. 1 2 Kleefeld, Eric (July 26, 2010). "Tancredo's New Home In The Constitution Party: A Religious, Paleoconservative Group Without Much Electoral Success". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
    3. 1 2 "Constitutionally Contentious". The American Spectator. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    4. 1 2 3 "Ideological Third Parties and Splinter Parties".
    5. ↑ "Tariffs and Trade – The Constitution Party". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
    6. ↑ ""Free" Trade Undermining Defense, Sovereignty, and the American Job Market – The Constitution Party". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
    7. ↑ "The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History. (Two volume set)". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    8. ↑ "Presidential Campaigns, Slogans, Issues, and Platforms: The Complete ...". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    9. ↑ http://www.constitutionparty.com/foreign-policy1/
    10. ↑ http://www.constitutionparty.com/resolution-calling-for-the-termination-of-combat-operations-in-afghanistan/
    11. ↑ "Meet the Constitution Party's Candidate". Reason.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    12. ↑ "Tancredo's New Home In The Constitution Party: A Religious, Paleoconservative Group Without Much Electoral Success". TPM. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    13. ↑ Rudin, Ken. "Election 2010 Scorecard". National Public Radio. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
    14. ↑ Joyce, Kathryn (2010). Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement. Beacon Press. pp. 7, 28. ISBN 978-0807010730.
    15. ↑ Cohen, Nancy L. (2012). Delirium: The Politics of Sex in America. Counterpoint. p. 321. ISBN 1582438013.
    16. ↑ Lovell, Jarret S. (2009). Crimes of Dissent: Civil Disobedience, Criminal Justice, and the Politics of Conscience. New York University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0814752272.
    17. ↑ Smith, Ben (2010-05-04). "Goode joins Constitution Party". Politico.
    18. ↑ Elected Office Holders. Constitution Party website. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
    19. ↑ Preamble to Constitution Party Platform "The Constitution Party gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of these United States. We hereby appeal to Him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and the protection of His Providence as we work to restore and preserve these United States. This great nation was founded, not by religionists, [sic] but by Christians; not on religions but on a foundation of Christian principles and values. For this very reason peoples of all faiths have been and are afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here. The goal of the Constitution Party is to restore American jurisprudence to its Biblical foundations and to limit the federal government to its Constitutional boundaries."
    20. ↑ Carrie Budoff; Thomas Fitzgerald (August 8, 2004). "Candidate counts on anger at Specter Democrats are hoping that James Clymer, of the Constitution Party, will draw off enough conservative support to boost Hoeffel's chances". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
    21. ↑ Blumenthal, Max (2010). Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement That Shattered the Party. Nation Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-1568584171.
    22. ↑ "Preamble to the Constitution Party Platform". The Constitution Party. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
    23. ↑ Winger, Richard (21 November 2016). "New Voter Registration Nation Totals". ballot-access.org. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
    24. ↑ Sara Diamond, "The U.S. Taxpayers Party"; The Guardian; UK; October 9, 1991; reprinted in Facing the Wrath; Common Courage Press; 1996.
    25. ↑ "Constitution Party National Platform". Constitution Party. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
    26. 1 2 3 Isn't the Constitution Party the same at the Tea Party? The Constitution Party, Retrieved March 22, 2014
    27. ↑ Affiliation Statement; Constitution Party of Alabama website; CPAL; retrieved March 2014.
    28. ↑ "A Brief History of the Alaska Constitution Party". Jrmyersforpresident.com. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
    29. ↑ CPAZ official website.
    30. ↑ "Cparkansas is coming soon". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    31. ↑ ACP; "Secretary of State, Elections Division;" Colorado Government site; retrieved March 2014.
    32. ↑ Paulson, Steven K.; "ACP Not Relishing Role As Colorado Major Party"; May 8, 2011; CBS Broadcasting, Inc. online; retrieved March 2014.
    33. ↑ "Constitution Party of Georgia". Constitution Party of Georgia. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    34. ↑ Constitution Party of Idaho official website.
    35. ↑ Contact; accessed March 11, 2015.
    36. ↑ IDSOS other election-related information; sources Archived February 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.; accessed March 5, 2014.
    37. ↑ MYERS–California Primary Results; Retrieved July 2, 2016.
    38. ↑ Constitution Party of Illinois website
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    40. ↑ "Constitution Party of Illinois Now Has Its First Elected Official"; "Independent Political Report;" April 12, 2013; retrieved February 9, 2014
    41. ↑ Constitution Party of Indiana Retrieved July 23, 2014
    42. ↑ Constitution Party of Iowa official website.
    43. ↑ CPoK official website
    44. ↑ "Marylanders for Constitutional Governance". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    45. ↑ Peroutka, Michael Anthony (January 12, 2011). "Michael Peroutka Addresses Maryland Constitution Party Meeting In Westminster, Carrol County". The American View.
    46. ↑ CP of MA website.
    47. ↑ U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan Officials Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
    48. ↑ U.S. Taxpayers Party Opposes All Four Michigan Statewide Ballot Proposals on November 5 Archived July 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.; All Business online; retrieved March 2014. Archived July 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
    49. ↑ Constitution Party of Minnesota official website
    50. ↑ Lovell, Jarret S. (2009). Crimes of Dissent: Civil Disobedience, Criminal Justice, and the Politics of Conscience. New York University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0814752272.
    51. ↑ Mississippi Constitution Party website
    52. ↑ "Constitution Party of Missouri". Cpmo.us. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
    53. ↑ Montana Constitution Party Re-Affiliates with National Constitution Party; Ballot Access Org
    54. ↑ "Constitution Party of Montana Official Website". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
    55. ↑ The Constitution Party of Montana: The Radical Right Wing Collides with Mainstream Politics; PDF auto download; MHRN.
    56. ↑ Montana Constitution Party Bolts Archived August 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
    57. ↑ Nebraska Party; Constitution Party of Nebraska; retrieved March 2014.
    58. ↑ The Nebraska Independent Party Archived August 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Archived August 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.; retrieved September 14, 2006. Archived February 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
    59. ↑ "Independent American Party – Nevada". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    60. ↑ Officers Independent American Party of Nevada, retrieved July 20, 2014 Archived July 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
    61. ↑ "IAP wins local contests"; 11-04-2010; Nevada Appeal.com (Nevada Appeal – Capitol Bureau); retrieved 01-21-2013.
    62. ↑ "About The Constitution Party". Scconstitutionparty.com. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
    63. ↑
    64. ↑ "The Constitution Party of Texas". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    65. ↑ Powers, Dan (November 3, 2012). "State of Utah House of Representatives, the race for House District 22 remains firmly centered in Magna". The Oquirrh Times Online Newspaper.
    66. ↑ "Ballot Access News – November 1, 2007". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    67. ↑ Note: With few exceptions, the state party affiliates and the national party changed their names in 2000 to the "Constitution Party."
    68. ↑ "Constitution Party of West Virginia". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    69. 1 2 United States District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:00-0894 Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
    70. ↑ "Party History". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    71. ↑ "WV Code 8". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    72. ↑ Wisconsin Constitution Party: Our History; Wisconsin Constitution Party online; retrieved March 2014.
    73. ↑ "wyomingconstitutionparty.com". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    74. ↑ "Our Terrible Swift Sword; February–March 2003; "Constitution Party Hopes to Take Politics to the Extreme in 2004;" Southern Poverty Law Center web; retrieved Sept. 20, 2013
    75. 1 2 Official website Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.; Constitution Party of North Carolina – State Executive Committee Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
    76. ↑ "Ballot Access News – November 16, 2000". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
    77. ↑ "Lightburn, Joseph B. Papers, Regarding Conservative Politics, 1957-1970". Findingaids.lib.wvu.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
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    83. 1 2 3 4 5 "Constitution Party Platform, 2016-2020" (PDF).
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    86. ↑ Social Security Phase-out Plan; Constitution Party organization online; retrieved .
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    88. 1 2 "Party Platform (Immigration)". Constitutionparty.org. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
    89. ↑ "Party Platform (Sanctity of Life)". Constitutionparty.org. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
    90. ↑ "Party Platform (Crime)". Constitutionparty.org. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
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    94. ↑ "Party Platform (Drug Abuse)". Constitutionparty.org. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
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    97. ↑ "'Patriot' Groups". Southern Poverty Law Center. Spring 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2009-07-31. Generally, Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the 'New World Order' or advocate or adhere to extreme anti-government doctrines. ... Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist.
    98. 1 2 Party Platform (Environment) Constitutionparty.org, Retrieved March 31, 2014
    99. ↑ Party Platform (Energy) Constitutionparty.org, Retrieved April 2, 2014
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    101. ↑ "Party Platform (Statehood)". Constitutionparty.org. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
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    106. ↑ "Keyes to Reveal Plans in Hazleton" Archived February 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Archived February 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.; Ragan, Tom; "Standard~Speaker," April 10, 2008 Archived February 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
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    111. ↑ "Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Montana Verifies That Ron Paul Will Remain on Ballot". Ballot-access.org. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
    112. ↑ "RealClearPolitics – Election 2010 – Colorado Governor – Maes vs. Hickenlooper vs. Tancredo". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
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    114. ↑ Control of state Legislature unclear, Helena Independent Record Archived June 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
    115. ↑ "Constitution Party meets possible presidential nominee". The Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
    116. ↑ Derby, Kevin (August 15, 2011). "Will Roy Moore Be the GOP's Ralph Nader in 2012?". Sunshine State News. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
    117. ↑ Derby, Kevin (November 21, 2016). "Roy Moore to Run for His Old Job – Not the White House". Sunshine State News. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
    118. ↑ Collins, Paul (April 23, 2012). "Constitution Party nominates Goode". www.martinsvillebulletin.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
    119. ↑ "Constitution Party Presidential Debate" '; Winger, Richard; Ballot Access News; March 26, 2012
    120. 1 2 3 Mills, Glen. "The Constitution Party hosts national convention in Salt Lake City". GOOD4UTAH. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
    121. 1 2 Agencies. "US: Darrell Castle named Constitution Party candidate". www.mwcnews.net. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
    122. ↑ "Constitution Party Nominee Acceptance Speech". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
    123. ↑ "Darrell Castle Withdraws from Constitution Party Presidential Nomination Race | Ballot Access News". ballot-access.org. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
    124. ↑ "Castle for President 2016 Website".
    125. ↑ Federal Elections 2008 (Washington, D. C.: Federal Election Commission, July 2009), pp. 5, 33.
    126. ↑ Wrong Constitutionalist on Idaho ballot The Spokesman-Review D.F. Oliveria, August 19, 2016.
    127. ↑
    128. ↑ "Ballot Access". The Constitution Party. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
    129. ↑ "Ballot Access | The Constitution Party". www.constitutionparty.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.

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