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Civil
Liberties The Constitutionalist Party defends the right of the individual to be secure in the ownership of their property and person as according to the Fourth Amendment. The right to own and use one's property freely is inextricable from human liberty as property represents the product of an individual's efforts, so if property rights are not fully allowed then people are not entitled to the products of their life, and indeed the ownership then of their very life would be damaged. Individuals should have the right to do with their property as they wish up until their actions infringe upon this same right as held by another. The CP opposes any effort by the federal government to limit the ability of an individual to do with their property as they please (up to the point of infringing the rights of others), including with regard to private businesses. The Constitutionalist Party sees an inherent danger to the taxation of real property. Such taxes are indistinguishable from the idea of the State owning everything and the individuals being made to pay rent for the use of the property. The CP's solution to this is outlined in the "Taxation" plank of the platform. Any time property has been taken from the owners by the government or private action in violation of individual rights, the Constitutionalist Party advocates restitution to the owners to be paid by those responsible for the violation. The Constitutionalist Party opposes all other violations to the Fourth Amendment. The CP opposes the use of search warrants to examine or seize materials belonging to third parties unless specifically specified on the warrant. The CP also opposes no-knock raids and the search of vehicles and passengers without probable cause. The Constitutionalist Party supports the right of private employers to screen prospective or current employees as long as the screened individual is aware of the practice. Whether by drug tests, blood tests for AIDS, or any other method of screening, the employer has the right to practice such testing just as the employee has the right to refuse to work there and/or boycott the business for doing so. The issue here is mutual consent. If the employer wishes to screen employees and the employees agree, then there is no invasion of privacy. Employers are not forced to hire employees who refuse. The CP opposes regulations requiring government contractors to impose the above screenings on private businesses. The Constitutionalist Party opposes the issuance of an identity card for any purpose. The Constitutionalist Party supports the First Amendment rights held by all persons in the United States. The CP opposes government initiatives that seek to abridge these rights except when the speech actually violates the rights and causes damage to another person. The CP opposes legislation seeking to make it illegal to burn the American flag, as this is a form of political speech. The CP also opposes any initiative to restrict speech on the Internet, although it promotes the use of screening software so that parents may protect their children from Web sites or areas that they deem unacceptable. The CP does not find that obscenity (including pornography) that is made with the consent of those involved with its production violates the First Amendment in any way, although it is the right of the individual to not have their tax money going towards any such ventures, and to boycott institutions that create, distribute, or support the industry. The Constitutionalist Party opposes government ownership of or funding for any communications organization. Such institutions should be made to earn their keep based on merit and the support of the economy. However, since it will take time for things like National Public Radio and other government-funded programs to adjust, the CP advocates that government involvement in communications be steadily downsized gradually to total removal in a fifteen year period. The Constitutionalist Party supports the right of individuals to participate in any religion they wish, or none at all, and to be free from legislation that supports the views of one religion over the others. This requires a separation of church and state, and any legislation that is proposed with the rationale that it is a proper law because a certain religion says so must be rejected in the defense of the other religions. America has never had a national religion, and thus should not pass any legislation that favors the tenets of any one religion as well. The government should also not aid any religion, nor attack any religion for their beliefs or peaceful activities. The CP promotes the equal toleration of all non-violent religions. |