Below you will find some of the questions that are most often asked. If you would like to submit a question, please use the form below.
Questions that are most often asked:
| | Q - | What makes the Constitution Party different from the other major and minor parties? |
| A - | The Constitution Party of Utah has covered this topic well as does the national party:
www.cputah.org/html/about_us.html#Differences1
www.constitutionparty.com |
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| | Q - | Why not reform the Republican Party instead of building a new party? |
| A - | The GOP Leadership is Committed to "Moderation" Not Reformation!
- Those who desire reform are not in leadership positions. The current leadership fills powerful committee chair positions with "moderates". Therefore, conservatives hit a "glass ceiling" when trying to rise to leadership.
- The current leadership grants endorsements and financial support to "moderate" candidates, ignoring and working against Republican conservative candidates supported by grassroots conservative field works.
- The GOP is unwilling to nominate a constitutional conservative for president. This key position is responsible for many policy decisions and the appointments of numerous other influential positions.
The GOP Has No Intention of Restoring Constitutional Government!
- Currently, most federal departments, agencies and regulatory authorities operate unconstitutionally. Although the Republican Platform opposes one or more of these entities at different times, without the principle of reducing the federal government to its constitutional boundaries, overall Republican support is for an unconstitutional government.
- Hundreds of government programs exist to help politicians reward and strengthen their supporters. Republican office holders are no different than any of the others. Politicians force citizens (by taxation) to support selected institutions and organizations which in turn support the politicians. This means hundreds of billions of dollars of vote buying and contributor kickbacks. Constitutional government would greatly reduce the opportunities for political corruption.
Compromise is Standard Operating Procedure
- GOP politicians are not held responsible for voting contrary to the platform. In 1996, the presidential nominee stated that he hadn't ever read the platform!
- With the "big tent" philosophy, the GOP has become a house divided against itself. There is compromise even before negotiations with those they call "liberals". The Republican Party is composed of people on both sides of definitive issues such as abortion, special rights for homosexuals and entitlements for big corporations. Both the Republican-led Congress and Republican presidencies have been a net loss for the conservative cause of constitutional government. |
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| | Q - | If I become a member of the Constitution Party (CP, the national party), will that automatically make me a member of the Constitution Party of Wisconsin (CPoW)? |
| A - | No, memberships are separate. While the state party voted to affiliate with the national party and the national party recognizes the CPoW as the official and only Constitution Party in the Badger State, this state party is independent, electing its own officers, conducting its own business, making its own decisions, etc.
Likewise, membership in the Constitution Party of Wisconsin will not automatically make you a member of the national Constitution Party. National membership is "supporting" membership.
There has been some confusion about this in the past, but the separation of state parties in this way serves the purpose of protecting state parties from national party “interference” (if there were to be any) in their state party decision-making. Plus, some state parties around the nation existed before the national party was created in 1992 and those state parties affiliated with the national party at a later date. Since they may already have ballot access in their state under a different name, it's just easier to retain that name rather than regain ballot access under "Constitution Party of ____________". |
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| | Q - | Should I become a member of both national and the party in Wisconsin? |
| A - | If your goal is to: 1) be an officer or serve on our State Committee as a district representative or any of the sub-committees 2) vote at our state convention or vote for our officers 3) be endorsed by the party as a candidate for office, then you need to be a full member of the state party (dues paid for the year and you agree with our platform). You cannot vote or offer motions on bylaws or party platform changes, serve on a committee or be endorsed as a candidate unless you are a member. Membership conveys the message that you agree with the platform so we don’t bring in to our organization those who don’t agree with us or us them.
Whether you become a member of both national and the CPoW we leave to you and what you are financially able to afford to do or desire to do, but you do not have to be a member of both. |
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| | Q - | So does the national CP have any control over the state parties that affiliate with it at all? |
| A - | Yes. When a state party and its members wish to affiliate with the national party for the first time, their state chairman signs a pledge promising that he/she and their party fully agrees with the platform of the national CP and their platform is written after the US Constitution and the original intent of the Founding Fathers.
Second, should the state parties run candidates for office who may not fully support the Constitution and the party platform, national will not list those state party candidates on their site www.constitutionparty.com, will not endorse candidates at the national level and will withhold any campaign donations or assistance from those state parties’ candidates who are not constitutionally sound. Our party won't endorse just anyone. |
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| | Q - | Actually, I have heard that the CPoW will not endorse, nominate or in any way support any candidate(s) who does not agree with the platform which is written after the US Constitution, that your party will not “compromise its principles” just to win. Is that true? |
| A - | Yes, we pride ourselves on setting that high standard, actually. What is the point of winning the election battle but losing the Constitution war? Why work so hard getting a candidate(s) on the ballot and spending so much in time and money to get a candidate(s) elected who may not agree with your membership and party on many issues, then when he/she is in office, he/she may vote against many of your beliefs.
We set high standards in this party because the alternative is the loss of liberty, national sovereignty and individual rights. If we were to compromise our principles and run candidates who aren’t of like-mind, we’d be no better than Republicans who have compromised and endorsed “moderates” and RINO’s for office, got them elected and then spent most of their six year majority fighting their own people on key issues and having a president who for six years vetoed no unconstitutional spending or laws…who vetoed nothing.
We seek to elect principled statesmen, not career politicians. We aren't perfect, but we are constitutionally correct, meaning we support the original intent of the Founding Fathers, a republic form of government and not a democracy, and our candidates will be of like mind when it comes to the Bill of Rights and our liberty. |
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| | Q - | So how do you insure your candidates are as you say “constitutionally correct” and will obey the Constitution once in office? |
| A - | Party bylaws require candidates must be party members to get party support and at the bottom of the membership form it reads:
(For Membership Only): I (we), the undersigned, agree with the purposes, constitution, platform and principles of the CPoW and its local affiliate, CPoW of ______________County.
Then a person gives their signature right underneath that.
- Many who have joined this party are known by others already in the party and often old members will say, “Oh, sure. I know ___________. He’s really constitutionally minded.” So we have word of mouth endorsements often times. People are often led to this party by current members they’ve known for years.
- We have a Campaigns and Candidates Committee who does the vetting of candidates with a series of essay questions the candidate must answer to the satisfaction of this committee. The Campaigns and Candidates Committee is the gate-keepers. The members in this committee decide who the CPoW will endorse and who we won’t. Essay-type questions are varied from candidate to candidate on various constitutional issues and there is also a statement that each candidate must sign which reads:
FOR NATIONAL OFFICES LIKE REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATE: Under penalty of losing the Constitution Party of Wisconsin’s endorsements/campaign funding and/or any support of the party’s members/associates of your campaign, do you agree that if elected to Congress you will obey (1) your oath of office (2) Article 1: Section 8 of the Constitution (3) the Tenth Amendment. Do you also agree to vote against anything and everything that will deny citizens their rights under the Bill of Right? ________________________________ (signature/date)
So any given party endorsement can be withdrawn along with financial support of a candidate should any candidate be found to be in disagreement with parts of our platform and beliefs as a party. We are not worried about ever needing to do this because it’s our experiences that many join this party because of our platform, not in spite of it.
- Another great protection is our exclusiveness, our unity. When prospective members realize we won't compromise on or water down our beliefs just to grow our membership and raise money, some choose not to join. The kind of people who join our party believe as we do already and are actively seeking out like minded patriots like us. |
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| | Q - | What is the best way for me to get involved with the CPoW? |
| A - | The first thing that you should consider is becoming a member. Members can serve on committees, vote at state conventions, elect officers and in general, it shows that you support the party’s platform so we don’t populate our party with those who may not agree with us. We do not wish to become a divided party like the Republican Party has allowed itself to.
Next, you should contact the state chairman by e-mail from this web site or by calling 1-877-201-2441 or asking the state treasurer who are the State Committee District Representatives in your part of the state. He can give you that info then you can contact them, introduce yourself and share your contact info
Finally ask yourself on what level you want to be involved. Consider becoming a local candidate, volunteer (there are many levels of tasks and projects that can be worked on), donate, and/or contact us to let us know what you are considering. There is always a need and we can fit you in to wherever you feel most comfortable starting. |
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| | Q - | You mentioned committees. Perhaps I could help out on one of them. What are these committees and do they have need of extra people? |
| A - | The CPoW’s committees are (in no particular order):
- The Finance Committee (headed by the party Treasurer). Their purpose is to develop a budget for the party and promote fundraising. Under that committee is the Fundraiser Group (created in October 2009).
- The Campaigns and Candidates Committee. This committee vets potential candidates with an essay questionaire on constitutional questions, followed by one-on-one interviews.
- The Bylaws Committee (headed by the party Secretary). This committee changes/amends our party bylaws and platform, updating it as needed.
- The Public Relations Committee. This committee’s goal is to promote the party to the public and educate the people about the Constitution and their rights.
- Convention and Meetings Committee. This committee organizes the annual state convention by finding its speakers and setting its agenda. They also find the locations and set the days and times of the convention and State Committee meetings.
Upon becoming a member, contact the party through this web site and express which committee interests you, then we’ll get you in touch with that committee chairman to see where they can use you. Thank you... |
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| | Q - | If I vote for Constitution Party candidates, won't I just be splitting the vote? |
| A - | There are many responses to that question, but the first answer is really the only one that matters:
- Is the candidate running as a Republican constitutional in his thinking/beliefs on issues?
If the answer is "No!", that he is not constitutional, then his candidacy is drawing votes away from the Constitution Party candidate and hurting his chances of winning. If a candidate is not a true conservative, let alone not constitutional in his stances, then he is being dishonest and tricking voters into thinking he's a conservative because he's running under the Republican name.
- Don't we all want our constitutional rights to life, liberty, property, gun ownership, states rights/sovereigty and the rest of the Bill of Rights protected? Don't we want the enumerated powers under Article 1: Section 8 obeyed by Congressmen and the rest left to the people in the several states or do we want Congress running/funding everything? Is it enough for you as a voter, taxpayer and citizen for a Republican or other candidate to vote for unconstitutional laws but then say, "But my party is spending less than the other party did." Funding for unconstitutional programs is theft because if that funding/power isn't enumerated in the Constitution, Congress has no right to use our tax dollars for that program in the first place.
- If Republicans are so bothered by the Constitution Party running candidates for office, then why don't they work harder to insure all their candidates will obey the Constitution? Then voters won't need the Constitution Party as now constitutional Republicans will be securing their rights in Congress by voting against unconstitutional laws and not drafting unconstitutional laws.
Think about it this way. The Constitution Party (CP) started in the early 1990's (as the US Taxpayer's Party) out of a frustration and belief that neither major party was voting constituionally. If the Republicans were obeying the Constitution according to the original intent of the Founding Fathers, why would the founders of the CP say, "Let's see. We have a political party whose elected officials in Congress and presidents are obeying the Constitution and not exceeding their powers. Let's create ANOTHER political party that will ALSO elect people who obey the Constitution."? Political parties can't be thrown together over a weekend; they take great effort to start up and nurture. Why would we go to all that trouble and effort, taking time out of our lives, if we already had a party that was protecting our rights with their votes? That would make little sense. Wouldn't we just support a party that already was protecting our rights and get back to our lives, if Republicans were what we were looking for already?
- See question two above: Q - Why not reform the Republican Party instead of building a new party?
- You and I don't work for the Republican Party. It's not our responsibility to be "good little conservatives" and vote their candidates into power every two years. We have as much right to run candidates for office as they do, yet when we do, we hear Republicans say, "You're going to hurt our chances of winning." or "You're going to draw votes away from our (Republican) candidates and throw the race to the Democrat."
Republicans talk as though they are the only ones who can run against Democrats and anyone else who runs is in their way somehow. Republicans talk this way no matter how liberal or how much of a RINO their candidate may be in a given race. Never is any thought given by the GOP to, "Our candidate isn't really conservative this time. Maybe we should endorse the Constitution Party candidate instead so we don't have to vote against our principles." No, it's always, "Your guy (Constitution Party candidate) should drop out and endorse our guy (Republican Party candidate)." or "We need to work together. Your party should join with ours." Never is any thought given to, "Republicans joining with our party." They act as though they are in charge and conservative voters--and now TEA Party ralliers--work for the GOP.
- Republicans had their chance. Two, in fact. Back in 1994 with the Contract with America and in the 2000's when they retook the House, Senate and President Bush held the White House for four years. Did government decrease? Did deficits go down? Did unconstitutional legislation stop being written? Do you feel Republicans are truly different than Democrats in policies they support and laws they pass or that Republicans are just "slightly better" than Democrats? If the Constitution Party had a majority for two years and we ran up deficits and passed unconsitutional laws like Leave No Child Behind, Medicare Plan D, and other bills that weren't read first, you can be sure Republicans wouldn't support the Constitution Party getting another chance in power. You are the employers. Why are you accepting the Republican candidates and planning to voter for them again instead of demanding they "explain themselves" and you as the employer asking them, "Why should I hire you when you did this and this in office?". In 2006, do you feel the GOP was fired with cause or were fired unfairly? Do you feel they will be different next time around? Will they step aside so another party can take their place who will vote constitutionally?
- There is little difference between the two parties. Have you noticed that no matter which party is in power, even when new people are elected, policies stay the same? Even if a Constitution Party candidate does cause a Democrat to win, what's the real difference anymore? One party taxes and spends; the other borrows and spends. Both parties vote for unconstitutioanl laws. Both parties spend whatever it takes to win seats (multi-millions of dollars) then say we need campaign finance reform but the "other party" is blocking reform. Both parties suppport long and drawn out conflicts. Both parties criticize the other for what their party's politicians do themselves. Some Republicans defect to the Deocrat party; some to the Republican, when they feel it's in their career interests. Both parties talk about "change", "reform" and "America is heading in the wrong direction".
- Is your vote about (a) who has the best chance of winning? or (b) which candidate best reflects my personal values? If it's about (a), then you will vote Republican until you die because Republicans have been around for over 100 years, have millions of dollars in their campaign chests, many are incumbents, so yes, they have the "best chance" of winning, but you don't owe any party anything. It's not your job to vote for them. If your vote is based on (b), then will you vote your principles and let the major parties know you're done settling? How many Republicans have lost elections? Do you stop voting Republican every time they lose? Vote for the party's candidates who best reflect your views and keep supporting them.
- If Republicans know you are mad at them, but they also know you will vote for their candidates, conservative or not, out of fear you'll "split the vote", Republicans will never change and will never give you truly constitutional candidates from here on out? Why should they? You'll vote for them anyway, right?
- If in a congressional district, there is a Republican, independent, whomever running who is truly constituitonal, but there is NO Constitution Party candidate running for that seat, vote Republican...but not because that candidate is Republican, but because he's constitutional. If a Constitution Party candidate is running against an incumbent Republican who has voted for unconstitutional laws/spending, then you have a choice to make. Will it be for individual rights and rule of law or will it be for name recognition and the candidate who will "hurt me the least" in office? |
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