State Party Platform

Preamble

The Constitution Party of Utah gratefully acknowledges our Creator as Judge, Preserver and Ruler of the universe. As such, we appeal to him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and protection as we strive to restore and preserve the American system of law and justice for the United States of America and for the State of Utah. The Founders of our nation were loyal Americans and wise statesmen who were aided by the hand of Providence in establishing fundamental principles of government that would secure our liberty throughout time. The U.S. Constitution, together with the Bill of Rights and Judeo/Christian moral principles form the basis for good government. Thus, for liberty to be sustained, our nation and state must be run by virtuous and moral people who uphold constitutional principles as intended by the Founders of our nation. We affirm that our rights come from our Creator, not from government. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As such, it is the right of all citizens to own, use, exchange, control, protect and freely dispose of property. Thus, to secure our rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. It is the proper role of national, state and local government to secure these rights through the preservation of domestic tranquility, the promotion of equal justice for all citizens and the maintenance of both a strong national defense as well as a strong state militia. Moreover, government is to preserve freedom of conscience and worship. Therefore, human law has no right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship, nor to control conscience, nor to suppress the freedom of the soul. The Constitution Party of Utah supports the provision of the U.S. Constitution that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust. Furthermore, we affirm the Founders conviction that there will be no government tax supported religion. The Party accepts and welcomes U.S. citizens of all religions, races and ethnic backgrounds. As a republic, it is essential to restrict the federal government to the powers specified in the U.S. Constitution and to preserve our citizen rights as defined in The Bill of Rights. We are a nation of law, and the U.S. Constitution is the charter of law. The powers not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government, nor prohibited by the Constitution to the states are reserved to the states or to the people (Tenth Amendment). It is essential to preserve state and community rights, within their jurisdictional boundaries so that the liberty and sovereignty of its citizens are maintained. To preserve state sovereignty as originally mandated, Utah is to exercise proper nullification in every instance of federal constitutional over-reach. The platform of the Constitution Party of Utah is anchored with three solid standards: Integrity - We are committed to restore integrity, honesty and accountability to government and to uphold non-corrupt and morally sound politicians. Liberty - We as Americans are free to act for ourselves with limited government interference. Prosperity - We want to create the greatest economy for the United States and for the State of Utah that the world has ever seen. We will do so by preserving free market principles in our economic policies. Therefore, the political standards of the Constitution Party of Utah engender a high sense of duty, loyalty, and honor to God, family, community and country. (Download the Platform in PDF Form)

Platform

The Constitution Party of Utah accepts the planks as outlined in the national platform. The following topics listed in alphabetical order, although not all inclusive, contain explanations of important issues that apply to national and /or state concepts that have their basis on constitutional principles as intended by the Founding Fathers and on moral Judeo/Christian values. The following planks form the foundation of the Constitution Party of Utah platform:

Character and Moral Conduct

Party leaders and candidates of the Constitution Party are expected to be of good character by exhibiting qualities of integrity, honesty, reliability, moral uprightness, fidelity, prudence, kindness, justice, courage, temperance, fortitude self-restraint, kindness and compassion.

Cost of Big Government

We propose to cut spending radically by reducing the structure and functions of government to their constitutional limits and to safeguard our God-given rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. We call for the systematic reduction of the federal debt through, but not limited to, the elimination of further borrowing and the elimination of unconstitutional programs and agencies. We reject the misleading use of terms “surplus” and “balanced budget” as long as we have public debt.

Crime

Crime, in most cases, should be dealt with by state and local governments in accordance with the Constitution. We favor the rights of the states and localities to execute criminals convicted of capital crimes, and to require restitution for victims of criminals.

Defense

The goal of the federal defense policy is to defend the national security interests of the United States. We should be a friend of liberty everywhere, but the protector of ours alone. We call for the maintenance of a strong state-of-the-art military. We oppose unilateral disarmament. We believe defense expenditures must be directly related to the protection of our nation and that these expenditures must be carefully reviewed to eliminate foreign aid waste and inefficiency. We reject the policies and practices that permit women to train for and participate in combat. Under no circumstances would we commit U. S. forces to serve under any flag but that of the United States of America, and never in combat without a constitutional declaration of war. One of the proper roles of the United States government is to maintain a strong State militia to promote equal justice and secure the basic rights of Utah citizens.

Education

The law of our Creator assigns the authority and responsibility of educating children to their parents. We oppose compulsory attendance laws and support the unimpeded right of parents to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including home, private, or religious schools. Federal involvement in education is unconstitutional. Therefore, we call for the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education, and all other federal agencies, boards, entities and activities engaged in such intrusions. Furthermore, we oppose the federal “No Child Left Behind” act and the “Common Core” effort and support the removal of these programs in Utah.

Election Integrity/Vote By Mail

With millions of non-citizens and illegal aliens within the United States as well as duplicate registration of the same person in more than one state and deceased individuals listed as active voters, voter fraud, buying of votes and vote stuffing are making a larger impact on elections. Thus, strict voter ID requirements and citizen certification must not be overlooked. The vote-by-mail system is in the forefront of election integrity and has the potential to amplify voter fraud. There are dozens of articles and cases demonstrating problems and complications with the vote-by-mail system that have a negative effect on election integrity. Theft, loss, fraudulent completion of ballots, and misrepresentation have resulted from ballots sent out with minimum security to every voter listed on the voter roll. Consequently, we oppose any initiative or plan to institute vote by mail.

Election Reform/The Electoral Process

The Constitution Party seeks the restoration of the electoral process controlled by state and local authority. Therefore, we call for the repeal of the Voting Rights Act and the Federal Election Campaign Act, as well as all federal campaign finance laws and the abolition of the Federal Election Commission.

Executive Orders

We oppose those orders that make law or otherwise usurp the constitutional authority of the legislative and judicial branches of the federal government, or those of the states or of the people.

Family

The law of our Creator defines marriage as the covenant union between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family. We oppose any legal recognition of homosexual unions and oppose government funding of “partner” benefits for unmarried individuals. We believe parents have the God-given right and responsibility to nurture, educate and discipline their children. We oppose the assumption of any of these responsibilities by civil government and consider such as tyranny against the family.

Foreign Policy and American Sovereignty

The United States is a free and sovereign republic which should strive to live in peace with all nations without interfering in their internal affairs and without permitting their interference in ours. We oppose American participation in any form of world government organization including any world court under United Nations auspices. We call for the withdrawal from NATO, the United Nations, WTO, NAFTA, GATT, FTAA, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc. These organizations and trade agreements destroy the sovereignty of the United States and quickly siphon off American jobs to third world countries. Furthermore, we would end all aid to foreign governments. Also, we oppose workers entering our country under H-1B visas so long as there are American or Utah workers available to fill these positions. In addition, we oppose any worker entering the United States under the L-1 visa and seek to repeal both visa types. Moreover, we oppose sanctuary cities within the State of Utah.

Gun Control

The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. It may not be infringed nor denied. We uphold this right and reject attempts by the federal government to require the registration of guns and ammunition by law-abiding citizens. Guns and ammunition manufactured in Utah are not items of interstate commerce and should never be considered as such.

Hate Crimes

We oppose “Hate Crimes” legislation. The goal of this legislation has little to do with hate and everything to do with the advancement of special agendas and special interest groups. Ultimately such legislation attacks our First Amendment rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech by giving government and the judiciary the ability to interpret, judge and convict based on a person’s thoughts and presumed intentions. Furthermore, it can evolve to the point where churches teaching Biblical-based traditional family definitions as well as teaching the condemnation of Sodom and other morally-corrupt principles could be considered violating hate crime laws. This could leave churches liable to prosecution for the expression of “hateful” doctrine.

Health Care/Mandatory Vaccinations

We oppose the socialization of American medicine. We support the freedom to choose medical coverage and treatment without government interference. Hospitals, doctors and health care providers should be accountable to patients, not to politicians, insurance bureaucrats, or HMO administrators. The government must cease the subsidy of perverted and promiscuous sexual conduct that risks public health and welfare, such things as AIDS and HIV.

Immigration

We affirm the constitutional duty of the federal government to secure our borders and to regulate the numbers and qualifications of immigrants. We insist that potential immigrants be disqualified on the grounds of health, criminality, morals or financial dependence whenever their admission would impose an improper burden on citizens of the United States. We oppose welfare subsidies, in-state tuition rates and other taxpayer –supported benefits to illegal aliens. Also, we oppose the issuing of driver’s license or the acceptance of the Mexican-issued “Metricula Card” as a valid form of ID or authorization for any form of taxpayer supported aid to non-citizens. In addition, we reject the practice of bestowing U. S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in this country.

The Judiciary

The Constitution provides for lifetime appointment of federal judges only for a term of office during “good behavior.” Therefore, we strongly support the constitutional provision for impeachment when appropriate.

Money and Banking

The federal government has radically departed from the constitutional principles of money and banking. Today’s monetary system is precisely what the Framers feared most and sought to prohibit constitutionally. These violations threaten the economic stability and survival of America. We call for a return to the provisions set forth in the U. S. Constitution. We favor repeal of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and encourage the end of all fractional reserve banking. It is our intention that no system of “debt money” be imposed. We support a debt-free, interest-free money system.

Pornography

Pornography is a distortion of the true nature of sex created by God for the procreative union between one man and one woman in the holy bonds of matrimony. Pornography is a destructive element of society resulting in emotional, physical and spiritual damage to individuals and families. We call on local, state and federal governments to uphold our cherished First Amendment right to free speech by vigorously enforcing our laws against obscenity and to maintain a degree of separation between that which is truly speech and that which only seeks to distort and destroy.

Property -- Personal and Private

We affirm the Fourth Amendment right to be secure in our persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures including general and unwarranted electronic surveillance, national computer databases and national identification cards or numbers. We vigorously oppose legislation and executive orders that deprive people of their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights under claims of necessity to “combat terrorism,” to “protect national security” or to “protect the environment.” We strongly denounce the passage of all asset forfeiture laws in which due process is denied those whose property is confiscated. Furthermore, the burden of proof should never be on the individual to prove innocence with regard to a crime for assets that have been seized.

Public Lands

We contend that all property concerns are either the domain of the individual or the State, as per the Tenth Amendment. The government has no right to confiscate or coerce owners into selling or using lands in ways that the government feels should be protected or needed for public use. Approximately 70% of the State of Utah is owned by the federal government. We request that these lands be returned to the domain of the State to be managed in the capacity we as citizens feel is most effective with private ownership of property as the preferred method for preserving these lands.

Religious Freedom

Article 1 of the Bill of Rights reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Our Constitution grants no authority to the government either to grant or deny the religious expressions of its citizens in any place. Both the First and Tenth Amendments forbid such tyranny. Therefore, we insist that all branches of government cease their attacks on the religious liberties of the people.

Sanctity of Life

The first duty of the law is to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. Therefore, the sanctity and protection of innocent human life from fertilization to natural death is the highest priority of the Constitution Party. In office, we shall appoint to all positions of authority only those qualified individuals who acknowledge publicly the legal life of the unborn human fetus. Moreover, these officials, our party leaders and all candidates for public office endorsed by the Constitution Party must commit to the protection of all innocent human life, without exception. In addition, we oppose the funding and legalization of bio-research involving human embryonic cells.

Social Security

The U.S. Constitution grants no authority to the federal government to require citizens to participate in Social Security. Until compulsory taxation is ended, we support legislation to secure Social Security funds as a trust that can be used only to fulfill its obligations to those who have contributed to the system. We will propose a plan to end the system with an orderly and fair transition to privatization.

State Sovereignty

Everything not specifically delegated by the U. S. Constitution to the federal government, not prohibited by the Constitution to the states, is reserved to the states or to the people (Tenth Amendment).

Tariffs and Trade

It is a violation of the U. S. Constitution to put trade and commerce treaty authority in the hands of anyone but the U. S. Congress. Thus, it is unconstitutional to allow United States commerce and trade interests to be legislated and controlled by outside regional government-based authorities. To vote for such legislation is a violation of one’s oath of office to protect and defend the U. S. Constitution and the Constitution of Utah. Therefore, we oppose GATT, NAFTA, The World Trade Organization, most favored nations policies and other unconstitutional trade agreements. We oppose the tax breaks given by the U. S. government to multinational corporates in the name of free trade which are not available to U. S. businesses. Also, we oppose the taking of money from U. S. taxpayers by the government to subsidize exports and to encourage businesses to move abroad.

Taxes

We favor legislation to abolish the IRS. Also, we favor replacing the current tax system (including income taxes, Social Security taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes) with an approach based on the original design of the Framers. To the degree that the excise taxes and tariffs are insufficient to cover legitimate constitutional expenses, we propose a “state-rate tax” to meet excess obligations. This tax will be apportioned among the states according to the population. The effect of this revision will be to encourage politicians and the people to bargain for less, rather than more federal spending. We endorse the ratification of the Liberty Amendment that would repeal the 16th Amendment.

Terrorism and Personal Liberty

The Constitution Party is unalterably opposed to the criminal acts of terrorists and their organizations as well as the governments that condone them. Individuals responsible for acts of terrorism must be punished for their crimes. However, in responding to terrorism, the United States must avoid acts of retaliation abroad that destroy innocent lives. We vigorously oppose legislation such as the “Patriot Act” that deprives the people of their rights secured under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments by permitting (under the guise of combating terrorism) arrests without warrants, wiretaps without court supervision, searches and seizures without notification and a host of other violations of the legal safeguards put in place with the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Water Rights

Government is to preserve our God-given rights. The right to own, use, exchange, control, protect and freely dispose of property is one of those rights. For many people, wealth comes from the land and a person has a right to pursue his livelihood upon the land that he owns. It is up to government to recognize and honor the right of people to sustain life. Agricultural pursuits in Utah require land and water. Therefore, we oppose any governmental intervention that hinders, controls or prevents the use of free-flowing water on land that a person owns.

Welfare

The provision of charity by the federal government is unconstitutional, immoral, and socially destructive. Under no circumstances should citizens be taxed to fund welfare. Charity must be voluntary. Individuals, families, religious entities and other private organizations are God’s intended providers.