BRING GOVERNMENT BACK HOME:
The 10th Amendment to the Constitution makes clear that the Federal government has only those functions which are explicitly assigned to it. All other right and authority are reserved to the states and to the people.
CONGRESSIONAL REFORM:
Congress must once again be accountable to the people. The SD Constitution Party calls for the following agenda to facilitate such reform: Apply to Congress all laws it has enforced upon the private citizens and abolish Congressional Pensions.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION:
We oppose any attempt to call for a Constitutional Convention for any purpose whatsoever because it cannot be limited to any single issue, and such a convention could seriously erode the constitutional protection of our inalienable rights.
COST OF BIG GOVERNMENT:
The only legitimate purpose of civil government is to safeguard the God-given rights of its citizens: namely, life, liberty and property. Only those duties, functions and programs specifically assigned to the Federal government by the Constitution should be funded.
CRIME:
Crime in most cases is to be dealt with by state and local governments. We favor the unimpeded right of states and localities to execute criminals convicted of capital crimes, as defined by Biblical law, and to require restitution for the victims of criminals. Federal interference with local judicial processes should be limited to that which is constitutionally permitted.
DEFENSE:
The United States should not bear the burden of being the world's policeman. We oppose the unilateral dismantlement and dismemberment of America's defense infrastructure. That which is hastily torn down will not be easily rebuilt.
Under no circumstances would we commit U.S. forces to serve under any flag but that of the United States of America. We are opposed to any New World Order, and we flatly reject U.S. participation in any New World Army. We should be the friend of liberty everywhere, but the guarantor and provisioner of ours alone.
DRUG ABUSE:
The SD Constitution Party will uphold the right of states and localities to restrict access to illegal drugs and to enforce such restrictions in appropriate cases with application of the death penalty.
EDUCATION:
God has invested parents with the responsibility for the nurture and training of the children He has entrusted to them. Education must be free from any government subsidy and all government interference. We favor abolishing the Federal Department of Education.
ELECTION REFORM:
The SD Constitution Party seeks the restoration of an electoral process which is controlled at the state and local level, and is beyond manipulation by Federal judges and bureaucrats. Elections should be accountable to the people, not to the government.
ENERGY:
We call attention to the continuing need of the United States for a sufficient supply of energy to sustain the nation's standard of living. Private property rights should be respected and government should not interfere with the development of potential energy sources.
ENVIRONMENT:
It is a prime responsibility of man to be a prudent, productive and efficient steward of God's natural resources. The proper exercise of stewardship demands that we avoid the extremes, that we escape the deadly hand of government confiscation; and that we recognize and preserve the right of the individual to acquire, own and use property so long as he does not infringe on the rights of other individuals to do the same. WE call for the return to the states and to the people all lands which are held by the Federal government or the United Nations, without authorization by the Constitution.
EUTHANASIA:
The SD Constitution Party is on record as recognizing and putting first the sanctity of human life. Just as we oppose abortion, so we adamantly oppose murder. WE oppose any laws which condone or would legalize euthanasia, the so-called "mercy killing" of the aged, the ailing, or the infirm.
FOREIGN POLICY:
Ever since World War II, the United States has provided military and nonmilitary aid to more than 100 foreign nations. Consequently, we are now committing ourselves to send the taxpayers dollars to those who have been our enemies for years. This must stop!
GAMBLING:
We believe that the basic principle of gambling (as defined by the courts) is a game of chance in which money is either lost or won, and as such is an immoral activity. It is a denial of the Biblical teaching of the rule of God's providence over our lives, a denial of the work-ethic, and a denial of the principles of stewardship of the wealth that God has entrusted to us. Therefore we oppose all forms of gambling, whether illegal or government-sponsored.
GUN CONTROL:
The right of the people to keep and bear arms is inherent in the right of self-defense, defense of the family, and defense against tyranny, which was conferred on the individual and the community by our Creator. As one of the fundamental rights of man, the right to arms predates all civil government, and thus can never be rightfully denied. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution expressly forbids its infringement in any degree whatsoever, no matter how "reasonable" or well intentioned.
Therefore, the Constitution Party opposes any attempt to restrict or prohibit gun ownership and use by law-abiding citizens, and stands firmly against all laws, which would require registration of firearms and ammunition or the government's permission to carry them.
IMMIGRATION:
Each year some 400,000 legal immigrants and another 300,000 illegals enter the United States. The SD Constitution Party demands that the Federal government restore the former immigration policy which required that potential immigrants will be disqualified from admission to the U.S. if, on grounds of health, criminality, morals, or financial dependency, they would impose an improper burden on persons already resident in the United States.
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS:
Each and every citizen must be free to choose his friends and associates; to offer, seek or refuse employment and to rent or sell his property to whomever he wishes.
MONEY AND BANKING:
Over the years, the Federal government has radically departed from the constitutional principles of money and banking. Today's monetary system is precisely what the Founding Fathers feared most and sought to prohibit constitutionally. We believe that to restore integrity, credibility and stability to the nation's money and banking system, we must disestablish the Federal Reserve System, restore the constitution system of having gold and silver backing for our paper currency, and abolish Fractional Reserve Banking.
NEW WORLD ORDER:
We say "NO" to the so-called New World Order and "YES" to the autonomy of these United States of America. We join with other American patriots to steadfastly oppose the surrender of American liberty and autonomy to any form of world government or any organization which works toward that end.
Furthermore, we oppose any organization that requires binding, rival oaths of loyalty that would subvert our efforts to restore our State and Nation to its Biblical and constitutional boundaries. We, therefore, oppose membership in secret societies and/or gloablist organizations by any of our members or candidates.
PRIVATIZATON:
There is no constitutional basis for the Federal government engaging in such enterprises as Amtrak, Conrail, the TVA, or the Oak Ridge uranium enrichment facility. The SD Constitution Party calls for the Federal government to divest itself of operations which are not authorized by the Constitution.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:
The Federal government (and its agencies and courts) continues to restrict the free exercise and expression of religion. In the strongest manner possible, the SD Constitution Party calls on the courts, the IRS and all other Federal, State and local government agencies to uphold religious freedom in this nation as constitutionally guaranteed.
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE:
The SD Constitution Party opposes the governmentalization and bureau-cratization of American medicine. Government regulation and subsidy constitutes a threat to both the quality and the availability of patient-oriented health care and treatment. If the supply of medical care is controlled by the Federal government, the officers of that government will determine which demand is satisfied.
SOCIAL SECURITY:
The SD Constitution Party supports legislation to require that the Federal government meet its obligations and protect Social Security funds as a trust which can be used only to fulfill its obligations to those who have contributed to the system. Further, we favor privatization and voluntary participation in the Social Security system.
TARIFFS AND TRADE:
Congress may not delegate to others its constitutional functions. We, therefore, oppose the unconstitutional transfer of authority over U.S. trade policy from the Congress to agencies, domestic and foreign, which improperly exercise policy-setting functions with respect to U.S. trade policy.
TAXATION:
We call for legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service. WE oppose any authorization, appropriation, or continuing resolution which contains any funding whatsoever for that illicit and unconstitutional agency. It is our intention to replace entirely the current tax system of the U.S. government with a new approach based on the original design of our Founding Fathers.
VETO AUTHORITY:
We urge the President of the United States to use his veto power to terminate funding for all Federal departments, agencies, and regulatory authorities which exist or operate beyond the bounds of the U.S. Constitution.
WELFARE:
Charity, and the provision of welfare to those in need, is not a responsibility of civil government. The message of Christian charity is fundamentally at odds with the concept of welfare rights. In many cases, the delivery of welfare by government is not only misdirected, but morally destructive. We encourage individual families to fulfill their personal responsibility to help those in need through tithes, offerings, and other acts of charity.
