The party’s official name is “Reform Party of the United States of America” (RPUSA). It was founded in 1997. The mission statement of the Reform Party is short and succinct: “We, the members of the Reform Party, commit ourselves to reform our political system. Together we will work to re-establish trust in our government by electing ethical officials, dedicated to fiscal responsibility and political accountability.” However, it is not very specific, but the party’s founding principles, platform, and constitution are quite specific.
Founding Principles
An example of the party’s specificity in founding principles is no more free gifts, meals, or trips for members of Congress. The also want laws with “significant penalties” not just rules. They also call for member of Congress and the White House to have to same retirement and health care benefits as the average citizen.
Other issues under the topic of Founding Principles include balancing the budget by giving the President the line item veto and passing a balanced budget amendment. They call for campaign reform by shortening the election cycle to reduce costs; they want elections to be held on Saturdays and Sundays to make it more convenient for working people.
They want to establish term limits for Congress: three terms for representatives and two terms for senators. They also want a new tax system, new systems for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, a new initiative for job creation, and lobby reform.
Platform
The party platform, which was drawn up at the time of the party’s founding, includes further elaboration of the founding principles, in addition to other issues. For example, it takes a stance of immigration: “Although we cherish and honor America's proud immigrant history and traditions, we must recognize the reality that today our nation is no longer an unsettled frontier.”
To assuage the immigration congestion, the party support four steps:
1. Banning the mass importation of temporary foreign workers via the abuse of the H1-B and the L-1 programs, the impact of which is to hold down the wages, working conditions and incomes of American workers, both immigrant and native-born alike;They base their foreign policy on the philosophy of John Quincy Adams, “Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her America's heart, her benedictions, and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.” They do not want the United State to act as “the policeman of the world.”
2. A temporary Freeze on all immigration, except for spouses and minor children of US citizens, until those immigrant persons currently here are assimilated;
3. Authorizations and appropriations necessary to secure our borders by unitizing technologies that enhance our border patrol and enforcement of US immigration laws;
4. Use of the National Guard or any branch of our armed forces to help secure and patrol our borders.
Constitution
The party’s constitution is fairly detailed. It consists of twelve articles and a thirteen article, which is an amendment. The first article declares the official title of the party; the second lists the objectives of the party, and the third article details the responsibilities of the national convention. The other articles similarly delineate the titles of offices and their responsibilities.
Jesse Ventura ran for governor as a Reform Party of Minnesota candidate and beat the major party candidates. He served one term from 1999 to 2003.
Reference:
Reform Party
