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Constitution Party (United States)

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Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Redirect Template:For Template:Pp-semi-indef Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox political party Template:Conservatism US

The Constitution Party, named the U.S. Taxpayers' Party until 1999, is an ultra-conservative political party in the United States that 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 shaped by principles which it believes were set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and the Bible.

The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, after President George H. W. Bush violated his pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". During the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections, the party sought to give its presidential nomination to prominent politicians including Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot, but was unsuccessful and instead selected Phillips as its presidential nominee in three successive elections. Michael Peroutka was given the presidential nomination in 2004, followed by Chuck Baldwin in 2008 (although he faced opposition from multiple state affiliates), Virgil Goode in 2012, Darrell Castle in 2016, Don Blankenship in 2020 and Randall Terry in 2024.

In 2000, Rick Jore, a three-term Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives, became the first member of the party to hold a seat in a state legislature. He was defeated in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections; however, he was elected to a state legislature in 2006, the first Constitution Party candidate to be elected. In 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the party to win a partisan election. The Constitution parties of Minnesota and Colorado have both achieved major party status once.

Template:As of, the Constitution Party has 28 members who have been elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States.<ref name="current" /> In terms of registered members, the party ranks fifth among national parties in the United States.<ref>Winger, Richard (November 21, 2016). "New Voter Registration Nation Totals". ballot-access.org Template:Webarchive. Retrieved November 21, 2016.</ref>

HistoryEdit

FormationEdit

During the 1988 presidential election, Republican nominee George H. W. Bush stated "read my lips: no new taxes" at the 1988 Republican National Convention. However, Bush violated that pledge during his presidency. Following the breaking of the no new taxes pledge, Howard Phillips announced that he would form a third political party called the U.S. Taxpayers' Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Phillips formed his new party through the U.S. Taxpayers Alliance, an organization he had founded and which had affiliates in twenty-five states, using its mailing list to announce the formation of a new party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Phillips also attempted to create a coalition with state affiliates of the American Party, but was rejected.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The party was accepted into the Coalition for Free and Open Elections alongside the Freedom Socialist Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The party launched its first petition drive when Jack Perry started a campaign to appear on the 1991 United States special election ballot in Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1990sEdit

From January 25 to 26, 1997, the national committee of the U.S. Taxpayers' Party convened in Miami, Florida. During their meeting it was proposed to change the name of the party to either "Constitutional" or "Independent American", but the vote was tied 27 to 27 so U.S. Taxpayers' was retained as the party's name.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 1999, another name change was proposed, with American Independent, American Heritage, Constitutional, Independent American, and American Constitution as possible names, but it was unsuccessful.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 3, 1999, the national convention of the U.S. Taxpayers' Party was held and during it the name of the party was successfully changed to Constitution.<ref name="Taxpayers' Party">Template:Cite news</ref> Every state affiliate of the party, except for Nevada and California, changed their names except for in Michigan where the Michigan Secretary of State denied the request.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The party is still called the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in Michigan as of 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1998, Patricia Becker, the U.S. Taxpayer's nominee for Minnesota state auditor, received over 5% of the popular vote giving the U.S Taxpayers' Party major party status in Minnesota. The party would later hold caucuses during the 2000 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1992 presidential electionEdit

Members of the party sought to give its presidential nomination to Ross Perot or Pat Buchanan during the 1992 presidential election, but were unsuccessful.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 1992, Phillips was selected to serve as a tentative presidential candidate for the party until a more prominent candidate wanted the party's presidential nomination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Albion W. Knight Jr. was later selected to serve as the party's tentative vice-presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On April 15, Phillips announced that he would run for the presidency.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Phillips accepted the U.S. Taxpayers' Party's presidential nomination at its national convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was held from September 4 to 5.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election Phillips and Knight placed seventh with 43,400 votes.<ref name="election 1992">Template:Cite news</ref>

Following the 1992 presidential election, the U.S. Taxpayers' Party's had ballot qualified state affiliates in California, New Mexico, and South Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1996 presidential electionEdit

In 1996, Phillips sent a memo to conservative Christian leaders including James Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family, stating that anti-abortion candidates like Pat Buchanan, Alan Keyes, or Bob Dornan were unlikely to become the Republican presidential nominee and that they should instead support an anti-abortion third-party candidate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Phillips supported giving the presidential nomination of the U.S. Taxpayers' Party to Buchanan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tom Staley, Buchanan's campaign chairman in northern Texas, stated that Buchanan would consider accepting the party's nomination if it had ballot access in all fifty states.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Phillips was given the party's presidential nomination again at its national convention in San Diego, California, on August 17, 1996, and Herbert Titus was selected to serve as the vice-presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election Phillips and Titus placed sixth with 184,820 votes.<ref name="election 1996">Template:Cite news</ref>

2000sEdit

In 2000, a schism occurred within the party, with those who advocated an explicitly religious party leaving to form the Christian Liberty Party, then known as the American Heritage Party.<ref name="Blevins2006">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Day2002">Template:Cite book</ref>

On February 15, 2000, Rick Jore, a member of the Montana House of Representatives who had attended the 1999 Constitution Party National Convention, announced that he was leaving the Republican Party and joining the Constitution Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jore unsuccessfully sought reelection in 2000, and unsuccessfully attempted to win election to the Montana House of Representatives in 2002, and 2004, before winning election to the state house in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On November 5, 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the Constitution Party to win a partisan election when he won election as a Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa, with only a write-in opponent.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2006, the Constitution Party of Oregon disaffiliated with the national Constitution Party over disagreements regarding abortion policy. However, despite disaffiliating the Constitution Party of Oregon gave its presidential nomination to Baldwin during the 2008 presidential election. During the 2012 presidential election the party attempted to give its presidential nomination to Ron Paul, but he rejected it and Will Christensen was given the nomination instead. In 2013, the Constitution Party of Oregon affiliated with the Independent American Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2000 presidential electionEdit

Unlike the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections, the U.S. Taxpayers' Party did not seek a prominent politician to give its presidential nomination to.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith announced that he was leaving the Republican Party on July 13, 1999, and briefly sought the presidential nomination of the Constitution Party before dropping out.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On September 4, 1999, the party selected to give its presidential nomination to Phillips and its vice-presidential nomination to Joseph Sobran.<ref name="Taxpayers' Party"/> However, on March 31, 2000, Sobran resigned from the ticket due to conflicts between him being a columnist and vice-presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 2, Curtis Frazier was selected to replace Sobran as the party's vice-presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election Phillips and Frazier placed sixth with 98,027 votes.<ref name="election 2000">Template:Cite news</ref>

2004 presidential electionEdit

On November 7, 2003, Michael Peroutka announced that he would seek the Constitution Party's presidential nomination and on the same day the party selected him to serve as the stand-in presidential candidate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He won the presidential nominations of the American Independent and Alaskan Independence parties.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Peroutka was given the party's presidential nomination and Chuck Baldwin was given the party's vice-presidential nomination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2008 presidential electionEdit

Chuck Baldwin and Alan Keyes sought the Constitution Party's presidential nomination during the 2008 presidential election. At the party's national convention Baldwin defeated Keyes winning the party's presidential nomination and Darrell Castle was selected to serve as the vice-presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Baldwin also received the presidential nomination of the Reform Party of Kansas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election they placed sixth with 199,880 votes.<ref name="election 2008">Template:Cite news</ref>

However, the American Independent Party, which had been affiliated with the Constitution since 1991, split into two factions between supports of Baldwin and Keyes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Ballot Access News">Template:Cite news</ref> The Secretary of State of California ruled that the presidential ticket of Keyes and Wiley Drake had the nomination of the American Independent Party.<ref name="Ballot Access News"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election they placed ninth with 47,941 votes.<ref name="election 2008"/>

On September 5, the Constitution Party of Montana submitted a list of presidential electors pledged to Ron Paul for president and Michael Peroutka for vice-president. Paul was aware and that he would not object as long as he did not need to sign any declaration of candidacy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Paul later wrote a letter to the Secretary of State of Montana asking for his name to be removed from the ballot as he was nominated without permission, but it was too late to remove his name from the ballot.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Paul also appeared on the ballot in Louisiana under the name "Louisiana Taxpayers Party" with Barry Goldwater Jr. as his vice-presidential running mate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Paul later endorsed Baldwin for president.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election he placed tenth with 47,512 votes.<ref name="election 2008"/>

2010sEdit

File:2010 Colorado gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results of the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election

During the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election, the American Constitution Party, the Constitution Party's affiliate in Colorado, gave its gubernatorial nomination to Tom Tancredo. In the general election Tancredo received over 36% of the popular vote, more than the 10% required for major party status in Colorado.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the campaign the American Constitution Party's voter registration doubled from 1,271 to 2,731 voters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Major party status in Colorado gave the party the ability to appoint seventeen members to Colorado state boards and commissions, but the party suffered from complicated campaign finance reports and fines from errors and omissions in the reports which led to a negative bank account balance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2012 presidential electionEdit

On February 21, 2012, Virgil Goode, a former member of the United States House of Representatives who had served as a Democrat, independent, and Republican, announced that he would seek the Constitution Party's presidential nomination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Goode won the nomination at the party's national convention which was held from April 18 to 21, 2012, in Nashville, Tennessee, and Jim Clymer was selected to serve as his vice-presidential running mate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Goode was the first Constitution Party presidential nominee to have held elected federal or state office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the general election Goode and Clymer placed sixth with 122,417 votes.<ref name="election 2012">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Reform Party of Kansas gave its presidential nomination to Chuck Baldwin and its vice-presidential nomination to Joseph Martin as his vice-presidential running mate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the party attempted to give its presidential nomination to Goode, but the attempt to change the nomination was rejected by the Kansas State Objections Board.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2020sEdit

In 2020, the Virginia, Idaho, South Dakota, and Alaska Constitution parties disaffiliated with the national Constitution Party and the Montana Constitution Party disbanded.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On April 14, the Constitution Party of Virginia's state committee voted to reaffiliate with the national Constitution Party, but was rejected by the national party on May 2.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2020 presidential electionEdit

From October 18 to 19, 2019, a meeting of the Constitution Party's national committee was held. Don Blankenship served as a speaker at the meeting and announced his intention to run for the party's presidential nomination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On May 2, 2020, Blankenship won the party's nomination at its virtual convention and William Mohr was selected to serve as the vice-presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

However, the Constitution parties of Virginia and New Mexico instead gave their presidential nominations to Sheila Tittle and the Virginia Constitution Party gave its vice-presidential nomination to Matthew Hehl.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The South Carolina Constitution Party chose to not run a presidential candidate during the 2020 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2024 presidential electionEdit

The party nominated anti-abortion activist Randall Terry for president and Stephen Broden for vice president.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some state parties such as Nevada and Utah rejected Terry's nomination and instead nominated convention opponent Joel Skousen.<ref name="p585">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ImpactEdit

The party has sometimes been described as a spoiler for the Republican Party.<ref name="h361">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="z298">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There have been instances of the Democratic Party helping Constitution Party candidates for this reason, such as by running ads for their nominee in the 2020 United States Senate election in South Carolina,<ref name="z251">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or assisting Randall Terry, their nominee in the 2024 presidential election, with ballot access and campaign promotion efforts.<ref name="d824">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Voter registration and notable membersEdit

File:CPWVa Party Symbol.jpg
CPWV symbol

Multiple Republicans, including Bob Smith, Virgil Goode, Tom Tancredo, Ellen Craswell, Rick Jore, and Cynthia Davis, have joined the Constitution Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On April 2, 2002, Ezola Foster, who had served as the Reform Party of the United States of America's vice-presidential nominee during the 2000 presidential election, left the Reform Party to join the Constitution Party. From 2002 to 2004, she served on the party's national committee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project, ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from California's 48th congressional district in a 2005 special election. He was the nominee of the American Independent Party, when it was affiliated with the Constitution Party, and placed third with 26,507 votes (25.5%).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the campaign, Gilchrist had raised more money than all of the Democratic candidates combined.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gilchrist's 25.5% was the highest percentage of the vote received for a third-party candidate in a United States House of Representatives election where both major parties participated since the A Connecticut Party received 26.3% in Connecticut's 1st congressional district in 1994.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Jerome Corsi, who co-authored books with Gilchrist and Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, considered running for the Constitution Party's presidential nomination during the 2008 presidential election, but declined to seek the nomination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Joe Miller, who ran as the Republican nominee in Alaska's 2010 Senate election, considered running for the Constitution Party's presidential nomination during the 2016 presidential election, but later declined.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> John Hostettler, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1994 to 2006 as a Republican, also considered running for the party's presidential nomination in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On November 18, 2010, Virgil Goode joined the national committee of the Constitution Party. Goode served as a speaker at the Constitution Party's national committee meetings in 2009 and 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Goode later served as the party's presidential nominee during the 2012 presidential election.

Year RV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Membership2021"/> % Change
1992 247,995 0.3 Template:Steady
1994 246,951 0.3 Template:Increase nil%
1996 306,900 0.4 Template:Increase nil%
1998 317,510 0.4 Template:Increase nil%
2000 348,977 0.4 Template:Increase nil%
2002 325,828 0.4 Template:Decrease nil%
2004 367,521 0.4 Template:Increase nil%
2008 438,222 0.4 Template:Increase 0.1%
2010 476,669 0.5 Template:Increase nil%
2012 77,918 0.1 Template:Decrease 0.4%
2016 92,483 0.1 Template:Increase nil%
2018 105,668 0.1 Template:Increase nil%
2020 118,088 0.1 Template:Increase nil%
2021 137,367 0.1 Template:Increase nil%

PlatformEdit

DomesticEdit

Electoral CollegeEdit

The Constitution Party's 2016 platform supported retaining the Electoral College and was opposed to establishing a popular vote system to elect the president and vice president of the United States.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Environmental policyEdit

The party believes that "it is our responsibility to be prudent, productive, and efficient stewards of God's natural resources".<ref name="Environment">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The party rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, saying 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".<ref name="Environment" />

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.<ref>Party Platform (Energy) Template:Webarchive Constitutionparty.org, Retrieved April 2, 2014</ref>

FederalismEdit

Template:See also The party supports the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which allows Congress to tax income derived from interest, dividends, and capital gains, and the Seventeenth Amendment, which requires the direct (popular) election of Senators.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The party holds that each state's membership in the Union is voluntary,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a stance known as the compact theory.

Fiscal policyEdit

The Constitution Party's 2012 platform called for phasing out social security, and the 2016 platform states that "Social Security is a form of individual welfare not authorized in the Constitution".<ref>Social Security Phase-out Plan Template:Webarchive; Constitution Party organization online; retrieved .</ref><ref name=":2" />

The 2012 platform supports 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".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The party also supports the prohibition of fractional-reserve banking<ref name=":2" /> and the return to the gold standard saying quote "The Constitution forbade the States from accepting or using anything other than a Gold and Silver based currency"<ref name=":2"/> as stated in the 2016-2020 platform.

Social policyEdit

The party opposes euthanasia, suicide, and abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The party supports the right of states to administer the death penalty.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The party opposes any government legislation to authorize or define marriage contrary to the Bible, and states that "The law of our Creator defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It supports the right for local and state governments to "proscribe offensive sexual behavior" and rejects "the notion that homosexuals, transgenders [sic] or those who are sexually deviant are deserving of legal favor or special protection".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The party strongly opposes "adoption by homosexual singles or couples".

The party also opposes pornography, believing that it is "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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The party opposes all government sponsorship, involvement in, or promotion of gambling.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The party opposes federal restrictions on, or subsidization of, medical treatments.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:See also

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 for citizenship.<ref name="Party Platform Immigration"/>

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".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReligionEdit

R. J. Rushdoony, a main figure in Christian reconstructionism, helped write the party's 1992 platform. The 1992 platform stated that "the U.S. Constitution established a republic under God, not a democracy". Christian reconstructionism has been influential in the Constitution Party and calls for the remaking of government and society according to Old Testament Biblical law.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The preamble of the 2004 platform states that the Lordship of Christ Jesus and the Bible are the final authority of law. It also stated that the purpose of the party was to restore American jurisprudence to its biblical and constitutional roots.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

ForeignEdit

TradeEdit

The Constitution Party's 2012 platform supports 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 supports protectionist policies in international trade.

The party also believes in exercising a tariff system to counteract the United States' increasingly negative balance of trade.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Immigration policyEdit

In 2012, the party opposed immigration to the United States without government permission, and sought stricter controls on legal immigration. It demanded that the federal government implement an immigration policy disqualifying potential immigrants on grounds of ill health, criminality, low morals, or financial dependence, claiming that they would impose an improper burden on the United States. The party favored a moratorium on future immigration, with exceptions only for extreme cases of necessity, until federal welfare programs have been phased out and a better vetting program is in place.<ref name="Party Platform Immigration">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

Electoral resultsEdit

PresidentEdit

Year Presidential nominee Home state Previous positions Vice presidential nominee Home state Previous positions Votes Notes
1992 File:Howard Phillips -v2.JPG
Howard Phillips 		Template:Flag Template:Small
Albion W. Knight 		Template:Flag Template:Small 43,369 (nil%)
0 EV (#7)
1996 File:Howard Phillips -v2.JPG
Howard Phillips 		Template:Flag Template:Small Herbert Titus Template:Flag Template:Small 184,656 (0.2%)
0 EV (#6)
2000 File:Howard Phillips -v2.JPG
Howard Phillips 		Template:Flag Template:Small Curtis Frazier Template:Flag Template:Small 98,020 (0.1%)
0 EV (#6) 		<ref>Joseph Sobran was the original vice presidential nominee, but he withdrew from the ticket and was replaced by Frazier.</ref>
2004 Michael Peroutka Template:Flag Template:Small File:CBaldwin08 (cropped).jpg
Chuck Baldwin 		Template:Flag Template:Small 143,630 (0.1%)
0 EV (#5)
2008 File:CBaldwin08 (cropped).jpg
Chuck Baldwin
(campaign) 		Template:Flag Template:Small File:DCastle08.jpg
Darrell Castle 		Template:Flag Template:Small 199,750 (0.2%)
0 EV (#5) 		<ref>In Montana, Baldwin and Castle did not appear on the ballot; instead, Ron Paul and Michael Peroutka appeared as the Constitution presidential and vice presidential nominees, respectively. Paul and Peroutka received an additional 10,638 votes.</ref>
2012 File:Virgil Goode, official 109th Congress photo.jpg
Virgil Goode
(campaign) 		Template:Flag Template:Small Jim Clymer Template:Flag Template:Small 122,388 (0.1%)
0 EV (#5)
2016 File:DCastle08.jpg
Darrell Castle
(campaign) 		Template:Flag<ref name="USN">Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Small Scott Bradley Template:Flag Template:Small 203,069 (0.2%)
0 EV (#6) 		<ref>In Idaho, Castle and Bradley did not appear on the ballot under the Constitution Party; instead, Scott Copeland and J. R. Myers appeared as the Constitution presidential and vice presidential nominees, respectively. Copeland and Myers received an additional 2,356 votes. Castle and Bradley ran in the state as independents and received 4,411 votes.</ref><ref name="USN"/>
2020 File:Don Blankenship Image (cropped).jpeg
Don Blankenship 		Template:Flag Template:Small
William Mohr 		Template:Flag Template:Small 60,023 (nil%)
0 EV (#8) 		citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2024 File:Randall Terry by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Randall Terry
(campaign) 		Template:Flag Template:Small File:Stephenbroden.jpg
Stephen Broden 		Template:Flag Template:Small 41,107 (nil%)
0 EV (#8) 		citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2024 (alternate) File:Joel Skousen 2024.png
Joel Skousen
 Template:Flag Template:Small File:Rik Combs portrait.jpg
Rik Combs 		Template:Flag Template:Small 12,783 (nil%)
0 EV (#8) 		<ref name="ballot" />

House of RepresentativesEdit

Election year No. of overall votes % of overall vote No. of representatives +/-
2000 122,936 0.1 Template:Composition bar
2002 99,306 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2004 132,613 0.2 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2006 68,031 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2008 136,021 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2010 123,841 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2012 118,102 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2016 127,376 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2018 74,956 nil Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2020 82,567 0.1 Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
2022 44,314 0.04% Template:Composition bar Template:Steady 0
General election results source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

SenateEdit

United States Senate
Election year No. of total votes % of vote No. of seats won
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 140,636 0.2 0
2014 100,395 0.2 0
2016 93,315 0.1 0
2018 57,932 0.1 0
2020 110,851 0.1 0
2022 40,419 0.05 0
General election results source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Best results in major racesEdit

Office Percent (%) District Year Candidate
President 1.3 Utah 2008 Chuck Baldwin
1.2 Alaska 2016 Darrell Castle
0.8 Washington 2016 Darrell Castle
US Senate 5.7 Utah 2024 Carlton Bowen
5.7 Utah 2010 Scott Bradley
5.2 Oregon 2008 David Brownlow
US House 30.8 North Carolina District 6 2024 Kevin Hayes
21.1 Florida District 16 2002 Jack McClain
16.9 Alabama District 1 2010 David M. Walter
Governor 36.4 Colorado 2010 Tom Tancredo
15.5 Nevada 1974 James Houston
12.8 Pennsylvania 1994 Peg Luksik

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Notes Template:Reflist

Bibliography Template:Refbegin

Template:Refend

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Wikinews category

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 | 2_group3 = Smaller
 | 2_list3 =


| group4 = Defunct parties | list4 = subgroup 

 | 4_group4 = Major parties
 | 4_list4 = 

 | 4_group5 = Third parties
 | 4_list5 =


| belowclass = plainlist | below =

}} Template:American social conservatism Template:Authority control

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