ACP Platform Principles Summary

 

These are in no order of importance please check out the full platform plank for full details if more details are listed in following sections.

 

 

 

Civil Rights- The purpose of government should be to protect the rights of its citizens from infringement by others.

 

Washington D.C. Voting Representation:

 

For anyone in America to be denied voting representation is to deny one of the foundations that our nation was built on. It is not right and undemocratic. Thus the ACP supports:

1. For purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and article V of this Constitution, the District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall be treated as though it were a State.

2. The exercise of the rights and powers conferred under this article shall be by the people of the District constituting the seat of government, and as shall be provided by the Congress.

3. The twenty-third article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States will be repealed.

Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.):

The US Government does not own the airwaves; they only have the power to regulate frequencies and related broadcast power levels.

The FCC has overstepped its authority and needs to be reined-in.  The First Amendment guarantees Americans the freedom of speech and of the press.  The radio is simply another way to transmit ideas, and to restrict its content and use to those whom the government "approves" of is not only unconstitutional, but repugnant to all freedom-loving Americans.

The ACP proposes to reduce the power of the FCC over the broadcasting companies and immediately rescind all "indecency" penalties.  Legislation preventing any future encroachment of American civil liberties will be emplaced.  If all different viewpoints and opinions can be expressed in writing, protest marches, and art, then there is no reason why free speech cannot be protected on the radio airwaves.  The FCC has no mandate to regulate morality, especially a codeless and undefined set of subjective values.

Radio Listener Discretion Advisory:

1. The ACP supports legislation to require radio stations that carry talk radio programs to have a quick 15 second blurb warning about the content of the current program. This blurb would be aired after coming back on the air from every other commercial break during the talk shows airing.

Example of blurb: "You are listening to the John Doe show on 100.7 Blah-Blah FM. This show may have.........in it. Listener Discretion is advised."

This issue would help to protect listeners and broadcasters from fines. Listeners would know what to not listen to if the so choose by the blurb and it would cut down on the indecency fines for broadcasters until the fines can be repealed. This would also protect listeners and families.

 

The Second Amendment:

ARTICLE II: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The ACP supports the original intent of the Second Amendment, in that The People should have the means to stand-up to and eventually remove an abusive, unresponsive, totalitarian federal government. Thus the ACP supports:

The ACP does not support any new federal laws limiting the private ownership of firearms by law-abiding citizens.  There are plenty of laws on the books already; those laws need to be enforced, no new ones are required.  Criminals who illegally use firearms in the commission of a crime should meet with the harshest penalties the law has available.

Firearms laws only affect those who obey laws; criminals by definition do not follow laws.  Therefore, more laws limiting firearms will not affect those who will not obey them.

Therefore, the ACP will not support any new legislation further restricting Americans' right to own firearms.

Reproductive Rights:

The ACP is against federal government intrusion into Americans' personal lives and decisions. The government has more critical duties to perform than dictate how free law-abiding citizens conduct their personal and private lives. Thus, the ACP supports:

1. The ACP supports a woman's right to choose when it comes to reproductive rights. In the case of an unwanted pregnancy, the woman and mother should have the first trimester in which to choose the course her life will take. The father of the child will also have legal right to contribute to the decision, but the decision must be reached within the first trimester. After the first three months, the woman has essentially made her decision either by action or inaction.

2. The ACP supports a woman's right to reproductive healthcare with respect to not being heckled and harassed by those who disagree with this stance and choose to protest outside women’s health clinics. Preventing access to clinics is essentially denying someone their Constitutional rights and will be punished as such. Thus the ACP supports a protest ban within 300 feet of the entrance of any women’s health clinic or doctor's office.

3. The ACP supports the ban on late term or partial birth abortions except when the health of the mother is in question as determined by a doctor or appropriate medical professional.

4. The ACP is not in favor of state government regulation of abortion.

Homosexual Rights:

The government should only care about homosexual unions for one main reason: tax status. Marriage is a religious issue and the recognition of marriage is a religious issue. Marriage is ultimately only recognized by the government for tax purposes. It is not for the government to deny the same rights (insurance, inheritance, adoption, and hospital visitation rights, etc.) to homosexual couples when those rights are given to heterosexual couples. Thus, the ACP supports:

1. The ACP supports that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman.

2. The ACP supports civil unions for homosexual couples which gives them the rights and responsibilities of a married couple. This includes child adoption. The states have the rights to change, when as needed, the rights and abilities of a civil union issued by that state.

3. The ACP supports states rights on this issue and believes each state should decide whether or not they will grant civil unions.

4. Any state that does not grant civil unions must still recognize the legality of a civil union issued in another state.

Constitutional Amendment for Voting Rights:

You might find it strange but check out the U.S. Constitution. There are amendments and clauses clarifying that people cannot be denied the right to vote for this reason or that. However there is no actual constitutional right to vote. The ACP thinks this should be amended.

1. The ACP supports a Constitutional Amendment stating and guaranteeing that American citizens aged 18 years and above are able to vote.

2. This right is denied to those who are legally defined as legally mentally incompetent or challenged and unable to understand what they are doing.

3. Any and all persons serving time in prison will not have this right for as long as they are physically incarcerated in prison or on probation.

4. Once a prisoner is released from physical custody or probation, they may reapply for voting rights recognition with the federal, state and local government.