The Official Bylaws of the Unity Party of America (First Adopted April 2010)
The members of the Unity Party of America enter into this Constitution of the Unity Party of America in order to do their part to preserve and protect the United States of America that they hold dear and to better stand united as a party for the principles of commonsense, individual liberty, and justice for all.
Article I: Organization
Section 1:
- The United National Committee (the “Committee”) shall be the governing body of the Unity Party of America.
- The Committee shall consist of two Unity Party members from each of the United States elected by the Unity Party membership of that State, as well as every officer elected by the Unity Party membership present at a party convention, during that officer’s term of service.
- Committee members shall not serve more than four four-year terms.
- The Committee shall consist of two Unity Party members from each of the United States elected by the Unity Party membership of that State, as well as every officer elected by the Unity Party membership present at a party convention, during that officer’s term of service.
- A party officer may be deemed unfit for office by two-thirds of the Committee.
- Party officer vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the Committee, though officers elected in such a manner shall not thus become voting members of the Committee.
- Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention: In the Event that any party office is vacant for any reason, the United National Committee shall meet within 30 days of the vacancy to elect a new officer by majority vote.
- Elected Unity Party officers shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
- A Chairperson who shall not serve more than four four-year terms beginning on January 1, 2022 and who shall act as party spokesperson, call and preside over Committee meetings, and call and preside over national conventions
- A Vice Chairperson who shall not serve more than four four-year terms beginning on January 1, 2022 and who shall immediately assume the office of Chairperson in the event the then-current Chairperson dies or is deemed unfit for office by two-thirds of the Committee; the Vice Chairperson shall only have a vote on the Committee in the event of a tied vote, and shall then vote to break the tie
- A Treasurer who shall not serve more than four four-year terms beginning on January 1, 2022 and who shall deposit, disburse, and otherwise handle all Unity Party funds
- A Secretary who shall not serve more than four four-year terms beginning on January 1, 2022 and who shall record, maintain, and archive Unity Party records, and rule as Parliamentarian on all matters related to party Constitutional matters and Committee proceedings
- Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention: For the Unity Party, the Line of succession for the Chair shall be: Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer.
- Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention: Treasurer Role Line of Succession shall be: In the event, the treasurer is unable to serve their role, the assistant treasurer will serve in this role until a vote on a new treasurer is completed.
- A Chairperson who shall not serve more than four four-year terms beginning on January 1, 2022 and who shall act as party spokesperson, call and preside over Committee meetings, and call and preside over national conventions
Section 2:
- A Unity Party member shall be defined as an individual listed on one of the state party pages of www.unityparty.us.
Section 3:
- The Unity Party of America Presidential and Vice Presidential Nominees shall be nominated separately by majority votes of the Unity Party membership present at a national party convention.
Section 4: (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
- When an officer resigns, the resignation is final. If no timing is specified, the resignation is effective at the end of their term. However, they can specify a time prior to the end of their term in writing, or at an official Unity event.
- Definition of Resignation: “When a party officer either in writing or verbally at an official Unity function states their intent to resign.”
- Definition of Resignation: “When a party officer either in writing or verbally at an official Unity function states their intent to resign.”
Section 5: (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity party will announce the National Unity convention in the following fashion, at least 30 days prior to the event date.
- All current officers informed
- A press release to be displayed on the homepage of the national website
- A notification to the active party email distribution list
- And added to the event page on the event calendar of the national website
This event will happen once per year and be open and available to the public.
Article II: Platform
The following positions are recognized as the Unity Party platform [as amended at the April 2016 National Convention]. Any changes to this platform require the approval of two-thirds of Unity Party members present at a national convention.
2020 Amended Statement: The following positions are recognized as the Unity Party platform [as amended at the April 2020 National Convention]. Any changes to this platform require the approval of two-thirds of Unity Party members present at a national convention.
2022 Amended Statement: The following positions are recognized as the Unity Party platform [as amended at the April 2022 National Convention]. Any changes to this platform require the approval of two-thirds of Unity Party members present at a national convention.
I. Balanced Budget Amendment
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment in the interests of the nation’s fiscal and economic health. Any short-term stimulative benefits gained by deficit spending are far outweighed by the long-term damage that spending inflicts on the economy. It’s time to stop spending our children’s inheritance, and it’s time for the state legislatures to apply to Congress for a new Constitutional Convention to pass this and other amendments, per Article V of the US Constitution.
II. Affirm the 2nd Amendment
2020 Platform Statement: The Unity Party of America affirms the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
III. Affirm the 4th Amendment
2020 Platform Statement: The Unity Party of America affirms the 4th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects shall not be violated.
IV. Eliminate the Federal Income Tax
Unity supports replacing federal income taxes with a revenue measure based on the carbon content of fossil fuels as a simple way of balancing the budget, combating global warming, and encouraging the development of alternative energy sources. A reduction in fossil fuel consumption would enhance American power abroad by making this nation less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
2020 Amended Statement: Unity supports replacing federal income taxes with a revenue measure based on the carbon content of fossil fuels as a simple way of balancing the budget, combating Climate Change, and encouraging the development of alternative energy sources. A reduction in fossil fuel consumption would enhance American power abroad by making this nation less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
V. Health Care Tax Deduction
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports a full tax deduction for the health care costs of all Americans forced to pay for their own health coverage.
VI. Social Security Tithe Pool
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports the replacement of federal payroll taxes with a “tithe pool” of less than 10% of earned income. At the end of every fiscal year, the pool of revenues collected that year would be apportioned to guarantee Social Security benefits, Medicare, and other entitlement programs for the following calendar year.
VII. Supporting our Military
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports our military service members, both active duty and retired, the many brave men and women who have honorably defended our great nation. Unity supports all efforts to get our military better healthcare and retirement benefits as well as making it easier for all veterans to get access to the benefits they need, no question asked.
VIII. Free and Fair Trade
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports global free trade in the interest of long-term economic development, so long as provisions are made for a Global Minimum Wage to protect workers both here and abroad, and for carbon tariffs to fight global warming and protect American manufacturers.
IX. Congressional Term Limits
Unity supports limiting US Senators to two six-year terms in office, and limiting US Representatives to four two-year terms in office.
2020 Amended Statement: Unity supports limiting US Senators to two six-year terms in office, and limiting US Representatives to four three-year terms in office, with one-third of US House seats to be up for election every year.
X. Judicial Term Limits
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports an amendment to the US Constitution which imposes term limits of 12 years on Federal Judges, including US Supreme Court Justices.
XI. Enhance Electoral Security
2020 Platform Statement: In this age of hackers and other criminals willing to do anything to advance their own agenda and subvert American democracy, Unity supports the requirement that all individual votes in Federal elections, whether they be cast electronically or by other means, be recorded with paper receipts.
XII. Judges, not Gerrymandering
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports outlawing the drawing of legislative districts along partisan lines, and supports the appointment of panels of retired judges to draw the boundaries of legislative districts.
XIII. Put Campaign Finance on Solid Foundation
2020 Platform Statement: Unity declares that all Federal political contributions, whether they be spent directly or indirectly on campaigns for Federal office, should be reported on a timely basis in terms of individual source and should be limited to no more than the current limit of $2,700 per individual donor, adjusted for inflation going forward; if corporations are real people and money is speech, corporations should be held to the same standards as real people and money still can’t be tossed onto the roaring bonfire of corruption threatening the very structures at the heart of American democracy.
XIV. Resign to Run
2020 Platform Statement: To give the American Taxpayer relief from subsidizing the careers of incumbent officeholders, elected Federal officials seeking office higher than the one they currently hold should resign immediately upon filing for a primary election; the timing of such resignations would allow for the holding of replacement elections in a seamless and efficient manner.
XV. Make Minimum Voting and Donating Ages 16
When Americans are old enough to drive at 16, they’re old enough to make political donations and vote in elections; conversely, Americans should not be able to make political donations if they’re not allowed to vote in the first place.
2020 Platform Statement: [Repealed by Amendment XXI]
XVI. The American Space Program
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports a focused, efficient and aggressive US space program which leads the world. An American space program that sets the pace will not only inspire Humankind, but will lead to many short and long-term benefits for our nation. Space exploration and the eventual building of colonies on the moon, Mars and planets beyond will provide us with the ‘life jacket’ Humankind might need.
XVII. Call for DC Statehood
2020 Platform Statement: Taxation without Representation for Hundreds of Thousands of American Citizens in the US Capital is symbolic of the dysfunction of the two-party duopoly; the Unity Party supports DC Statehood with appropriate provisions for Federal property.
XVIII. Self-Determination of All Peoples
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports the right of self-determination for all Peoples, including their right to establish new States within the United States of America as appropriate.
XIX. Approval Voting
2020 Platform Statement: Unity proposes the adoption of Approval Voting, defined as allowing voters to vote for more than one option with the winning option having the broadest possible support, as the official voting method for all votes from internal party votes to state and national votes.
XX. Unity Party for a United America
2020 Platform Statement: The Mission Statement of the Unity Party of America shall be “Unity shall strive for a United America where peoples of all parties and backgrounds shall come together on common ground and move forward together as a nation to create a better country for current and future generations of Americans.”
XXI. Repeal of Minimum Voting and Donating Ages Platform Plank
2020 Platform Statement: Amendment XV to the Constitution of the Unity Party of America, “Make Minimum Voting and Donating Ages 16,” is hereby repealed.
XXII. Student Loan Freedom
Unity supports the free market, supports the freedom to get a good education, and therefore supports the Federal government guaranteeing extremely low interest rates on current and future Student Loans, with no profiteering. — 2020 Platform Statement: [Repealed by Amendment XXXV]
XXIII. Support for the First Amendment Right to Assemble
2020 Platform Statement: In the spirit of the First Amendment right “of the people peaceably to assemble,” Unity supports the Right of Ballot Access for all Political Parties as well as the Right of Collective Bargaining for all Unions.
XXIV. Better Voting for Public Elections
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports the exploration of more sophisticated, more representative voting methods.
Approval voting, range voting, or STAR voting are better methods for electing single member executive offices such as President, governors, and mayors.
Legislative offices should be elected by proportional representation. This includes Congress, state legislatures, boards, and councils.
XXV. Climate Change
2020 Platform Statement: The phrase “global warming” in “IV. Eliminate the Federal Income Tax” and “VIII. Free and Fair Trade” is hereby replaced with “climate change”.
XXVI. Congressional Term Limits
2020 Platform Statement: Amendment IX to the Constitution of the Unity Party of America, “Term Limits”, shall be retitled to “Congressional Term Limits” and shall be amended to read, “Unity supports limiting US Senators to two six-year terms in office, and limiting US Representatives to four three-year terms in office, with one-third of US House seats to be up for election every year.”
XXVII. Renewable Energy
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports research on creative applications of sustainable and renewable energy sources.
XXVIII. Arts and Humanities for All
2020 Platform Statement: Unity supports the Arts and Humanities for All.
XXIX. Respect for Underprivileged & Underrepresented Communities
2020 Platform Statement: The Unity Party of America will work to Unite America by empowering underprivileged and underrepresented communities.
XXX. Self-Determination of All Peoples (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity party supports peoples rights across the globe to Freedom, Sovereignty, and self-determination.
XXXI. Right to Equal Education (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity party supports equal access to high quality education, innovation in the classroom, and creative funding solutions.
XXXII. Education Transparency (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity Party supports transparency between Educators and Parents or Guardians.
XXXIII. Right to Alternative Education (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity party supports developing high quality and affordable resources for homeschooling.
XXXIV. Higher Education (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity party supports that everyone should have equal access to affordable, high quality higher education, including opportunities outside of student loans. [Replaces XXII]
XXXV. Social Justice Initiatives (Established by vote at the April 2022 National Convention)
The Unity Party seeks to develop Social Justice Initiatives with actionable policies.
Amendment Process
Any Amendment to this Constitution shall be deemed adopted and effective once two-thirds of party members present at a national party convention ratify said Amendment.
Article III: Adoption of this Constitution
This Constitution shall be deemed adopted and effective once two-thirds of party members present at a national party convention ratify this Constitution.
The undersigned members of the Unity Party of America deem this Constitution adopted and effective as of April 09, 2022.
Amendment I to the Constitution of the Unity Party of America (Adopted 4/17/10)
Unity Party Constitution now up
So close. Too many “pet” platforms that do not reflect the middle. While most Americans support the right to bear arms most do not support all interpretations of the 2nd amendment. An amendment to the 2nd amendment clarifying it is what the center wants. The center has not sufficiently weighed in on DC statehood so should not be in the platform. While fiscal responsibility is a centrist view a balanced budget amendment is not. And on and on.
Too many “pet” platforms… And which of these centrist political parties is perfect? Obviously none of them or you wouldn’t be here. I’m a disabled vet and I believe there should be some type of amendment to the 2nd Amendment but there are better uses of time. My center weight would not only like to see DC get statehood but also Peurto Rico. How exactly do you mandate compliant fiscal responsibility without a balanced budget amendment? That’s kinda where we are now.
I personally believe that the strongest military in the world is essential. Not only does it lead to the natural jobs of soldiers but there is a significant amount of money put into US manufacturing along with other peripheral jobs you don’t even think about.
More important to me is how strong is this leadership? I’ve never voted for an “R” or a “D”. Have been saying for over 30 years that the 2 party system was going to kill this country. Started by voting for Ross Perot and was a member of the Reform party until that “what-the-hell-happened” moment in 2000 when I was staring at Nader, Trump & Duke as the face of the party and it correctly collapsed. Haven’t pledged to a 3rd party since but I can’t hold out any longer.
I have to agree with what was stated earlier about “Pet Platforms”. As an individual seeking a party to support I find a dearth of information on many topics and an anemic description on how the stated platforms would be addressed. I will be watching this party and if I can see a more cohesive and thorough platform I possibly would be an ardent supporter. Our nation is looking for a centrist party and you have the ability of being that party if you will only strengthen your platform.
Unlike some other parties, including contemporary American ones and some European ones in the first half of the 20th century, the Unity Party won’t turn its platform decisions over to the whims of one man. The democratic process isn’t perfect, but it’s democratic.
There are several planks in your party platform. Maybe some should be removed maybe not. I do agree with doing away with the Federal Income Tax. I would like to see a national sales tax. There are to may people that do business on a cash basis, for example drug dealers, prostitution, contractors and so on. But one thing all people have in common is they have to buy things, food, clothing, electronics, cars, homes and everything else we buy. Placing a tax on the carbon foot print could put a financial strain on a lot of people. The average carbon emission per person is 16 tons and the US generated 5.13 billion metric tons of CO2 in 2019, how do you plan on taxing that?
Also I didn’t see anything in the platform about reducing government spending, granted you do propose a balanced budget, but what about spending. The government is notorious for wasting money, contracts are offered and then companies go over them by billions of dollars, it doesn’t matter if you balance the budget if you don’t control government spending.
Another thing in addition to term limits on elected government positions, how about laws that Congress has to live by the same laws that we have to. The Congress should not receive subsidies for their benefits greater that what the average American gets. Currently the government provides subsidies of around 72% while most Americans might get 50%.
There should be truth in political ads. This last election was terrible. There were several outright lies, doctored videos and so on. We have truth in advertising laws, we should also have truth in political ads. Super PAC’s should also provide who, and how much is contributed to the PAC. – Just my thoughts.
Don and Rodney are right. Please correct me if I’m wrong. But when the colonies were founded it was done through a sales tax. Income tax: The United States imposed income taxes briefly during the Civil War and the 1890s. In 1913, the 16th Amendment was ratified, permanently legalizing an income tax. After all someone had to pay for the Civil War. 🙁
I’m guessing we all can agree that everyone needs health care. This is different than should or could or would or maybe can be called a right. Health Care is a fundamental necessity. I’m guessing Medicare 4 All is thee answer to this situation.
We can agree we need accountability in Campaign Advertising with actal facts and not fakes or false advertising.
We can agree that when a candidate makes a promise in their campaign that they are bound to it while in office and what then makes them accountable? Impeachment? or an emergency recall by Unity Party?
Wasteful spending needs to be dealt with. We can agree on this.
There used to be a solid budget office in Congress that prevented over spending by the Elected Members. Right beside that was the Ethics Office that was “gutted”.
We need to agree that we eliminate the rotating lobbysists revolving door. This revolving door prevents our elected leaders from doing their jobs for us the People of The United States.
Regarding adding states. 1. I am not versed on P.R.’s situation if that is good or bad to be a State…what I do know however, Its current situation is horrible and needs a solid solution. They’ve been needing a soltuion for many years. Congress not being a functioning elected officials facility…has done nothing to help bring a solution to the floor or passed a bill that would resolve many things for P.R.
Now…however, Adding Washington D.C. as a state seems odd when what it is supposed to do is have a budget committee dedicated to provide actual funds to its own city…which is why it has a Mayor and a city council. Making it a state doesn’t solve the problem. The problem is a functioning Congress. If Congress is functioning then the city of which Congress resides in…would in fact be functioning. Making it a state only adds a political conflict of compliance. Compliance meaning….ones duty to do their job.
Please correct me if I’m wrong…when an elected official refuses to do the job they were elected to do it means two things..derrelect of duty and or non complaint. Thus there are articles to do an emergency removal of an elected offical for derrelect of duty and being non compliant?
Some would say recall and I agree but I think there is something within Congress itself that provides an emergency removal and I don’t remember off hand if the Constitution provides such an outline of that removal process? Been trying to find a person who’s studied the constitution and the admendments that have been added over the years for this answer…but no one has responded. It seriously has been a very odd silence of no response.
Super PAC’s for the safety of our Nation need to be eliminated. Right now Super PAC’s have been causing too much cancel culture in our nation’s elections…censorship, canceling a persons opinion, false advertising…etc. But yes, until they are eliminated…they MUST show who is donating and how much. Super PAC’s are the parasite that needs to be ripped out and incinerated.
To wrap up.
We Mandate a budget must be balanced, with funds to pay off debt, with removal of wasted spending…bloated projects, pet projects….i.e. earmarks. Accountability for projects that are over billed and cause over cost of actual bidding and real project price.
Military yes is needed. However, there are projects being done in the USA that are over priced and is causing too much funds that are diverted from the needs of our Nations Operations and needs of our Citizens. Greed has taken on a life of its own which is why the pentagon refuses to be audited. There has to be a healthy balance here and as of right now we don’t have a balance. I’m former classified. There are abuses being done and our tax dollars are being stolen and being used against us.
Additional thoughts…
Education is public and must have civics at its core. I was able to memorize 3/4 of the constitution when I was in Junior High. There were 75 of us who memorized sections of it. We had a full discussion of the Contitution in the lunch area with over 150 fellow students and we were just 12 and 13 year olds. There was an article in a newspaper about us doing this. We need to return to this type of education. What stopped us? Prevented us from Continuing ? Political operatives tried to shut our campus down and held students hostage in their homes when we refused to comply….political operatives hired through the CIA.
Carbon taxation….that is a bill that needs a thorough discussion as I’ve got some serious solutions. That if anything is a bill more than it is a platform for the constitution in here.
The Unity Party Consittuion: Needs ONLY to be how this body functions, bilaws, mandates, accountability, and voting process, member voices = how they are heard, transparency. Communication access…meaning when a member needs to reach someone…they will reach that person. We get this down here…we have a functioning body.
REGARDING: the things we need to achieve as a party….= Seperate page needs to be called:
“PARTY PLATFORM”. Party Platform page carries the issues….carries the health care, wasteful budgets…over spending in the military industrial complex…earmarks…accountaiblity in congress and transparency in the super pac’s and removal of the super pacs…Pubic Edcuation….etc.
Leaders of the Unity Party Committee please reach out to me. You have my email. Ted.
Ted, there is indeed a separate platform page (entire section, actually). I’ve added an additional “29” link above to make that more clear, and am adding the same link here: https://unityparty.us/about/platform/.