Declaration of Principles
Republican Study
Committee of Colorado
As members of the Republican Study
Committee of Colorado, we commit ourselves to advancing the constitutions of the
United States and Colorado, the principles of our historic republic, mainstream
American values and the Republican platform. We agree to support the bylaws of
the Committee. We agree to use the following guiding principles as our
standards for drafting and voting on legislation:
Individual Liberty
The rights of American citizens proceed from The Creator, not from the
government. Government authority proceeds only from the consent of the People.
Individuals, including the unborn, have the intrinsic right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. All citizens should have the freedom to decide
their own religion and worldview and to acknowledge God individually and
collectively within the public square, without hindrance or coercion from
government.
Personal Responsibility
Individuals and families are responsible for their behavior. Public policy
should encourage and empower their efforts to provide for their own health,
safety, education, moral fortitude and personal wealth.
Limited Government
Federal, state and local governments should be limited to their respective
roles, in accordance with the Tenth Amendment. The size of government,
government regulations, and entitlement and transfer programs, should be limited
to essential, inherently governmental functions.
Peace Through Strength and the Rule of Law
National security, national sovereignty, public safety, the right of
self-defense, the rule of constitutional and statutory law, and civil justice
should be preserved without excessive burdens to civil liberty. The State
should enforce policies that reduce illegal immigration, enforce Federal
immigration laws and reduce the flow of dangerous and illegal drugs.
Free Markets and Commerce
The rights of free enterprise, private property ownership and private control
should not be infringed. Public policy should encourage a vibrant economy,
business competition, and private sector job growth. Industrial, technological,
agricultural and energy innovation should be encouraged. Workers have the right
to join voluntary associations or unions without coercion or involuntary
diversions of their dues for political activities.
Lower Taxes
Individuals, families and the government should be responsible in their
spending. Hard working taxpayers expect the government to be efficient and
avoid waste with their money. The State should only collect taxes from
citizens to fund legitimate government functions. Government taxes and fees
should be limited to essential, inherently-governmental functions and not for
the forced redistribution of wealth, disproportionate advantages for targeted
interest groups, or partisan political gain.
Family Integrity and the American Moral
Tradition
Traditional American families should be encouraged and supported by policies to
nurture strong marriages, to support mainstream moral values, and to create,
control and maintain their individual wealth with minimal interference from the
government.
Faith-Based Institutions
Church, synagogue, and faith-based charities that care for the poor, sick and
needy should be recognized and encouraged by state policy and should not be
restricted from their participation and influence in the public square.
Quality Education
Parents should have the right to rear and educate their children according to
high standards of character and quality, with minimal government interference.
Parents are ultimately responsible for their family’s education and should be
able to choose among traditional, charter, home school, on-line, private, or
other alternative schools. School children should not be restricted in their
rights to voluntary prayer, religious expression, and acknowledgement of God,
the American flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence and
the United States Constitution. Higher education should foster academic
excellence, respect for Western civilization and academic freedom without
indoctrination or political coercion. Academic tenure should not be used as a
vehicle to abuse authority, academic integrity or professional ethics.
Western Conservation
Public Policy should encourage effective water, soil and energy conservation,
pollution control, healthy forests, wildfire protection, public access to
government lands and the preservation of the legacy of the natural resources and
the natural beauty of Colorado. Private property rights encourage stewardship
of resources. Government subsidies and eminent domain often degrade the
environment. Market incentives spur individuals to conserve resources and
protect environmental quality. Polluters should be liable for the harm they
cause others.
Legislative Integrity
Legislators should lead through personal moral integrity, and should consider
this Declaration of Principles responsibly before supporting legislation. If
proposed legislation violates these principles, is not clearly understood, or
undermines the common good, it should be rejected regardless of political
pressures of personal loss or gain
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Republican Oath