Constitution Party (United States)

The Constitution Party, named the U.S. Taxpayers' Party until 1999, is an ultraconservative 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 a member of the Constitution Party and the first member of the party to hold a seat in a state legislature as a Constitution Party member in 2006. He was defeated in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections; however, he was elected to the Montana 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.

As of June 2024, the Constitution Party has 28 members who have been elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States.