Before the 2016 election, I diced apart the platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties.  This year, I’m rehashing  the Republican Party Platform to see what’s been done in this first year of a Republican President, as well as a Republic majority in the House and the Senate.

This installment covers the Republican section entitled “A Rebirth of constitutional Government.”  If you want a look back to 2016, enter “Party Platform” in the search bar.  If you want a reminder of what I’ve done so far in 2017, search for “State of the Union.”

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Today’s Installment is about [tweetthis]the Republicans’ take on A REBIRTH OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. [/tweetthis]

The introduction of this section explains that the Republicans believe that government exists first and foremost to protect our inalienable rights.  So The Republicans fine that preferences, quotas, and set-asides are forms of discrimination.

As in the previous two installments, just so I can keep everything straight, I put the information into a simple chart, like I would for corporate goals.  This is also the way CoCo’s Individual Education Plans got laid out, too.  Pretty easy to understand; I think:  We will______________ by_____________ so that______________ happens.

I added Bold Red in the middle column for a status update. (I used Blue Bold for action contrary to the Platform.)

In most cases, my source is GovTrack.us. I noted other sources, so you can take a look for yourself.

 

We will	By	So that
Have a constitutionally minded Supreme Court.	Appointing up to five Supreme Court judges. President Trump nominated and Congress approved one Supreme Court Judge, Neil Gorsuch. (No other vacancy occurred in 2017)	We can begin to reverse Roe, Obergefell, and the Obamacare cases.
Have a court that follows the text and original meaning of the Constitution and our laws.	Restoring a strong conservative majority in the judiciary. As of January 24, 2018, the United States Senate has confirmed 23 Article III judges nominated by President Trump, including 1 Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 12 judges for the United States Courts of Appeals, 10 judges for the United States District Courts, and 0 judges for the United States Court of International Trade.[2]	We oppose the adoption or ratification of treaties that weaken or encroach upon American sovereignty.
Reclaim the constitutional powers from the bureaucratic state.	Requiring major new federal regulations be approved by Congress before they can take effect (Regulation Freedom Amendment). NO ACTION	Rules and regulations are no longer created and enforced by executive departments, agencies, and commissions.
Define marriage as one man and one woman.	Supporting the appointment of justices and judges who respect the constitutional limits on their power and respect the authority of the states to decide fundamental social questions. As of January 24, 2018, the United States Senate has confirmed 23 Article III judges nominated by President Trump, including 1 Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 12 judges for the United States Courts of Appeals, 10 judges for the United States District Courts, and 0 judges for the United States Court of International Trade.[2] (Wikipedia)	Marriage is defended against an activist Judiciary.
Prohibit government, specifically the IRS, from policing or censoring speech based on religious convictions or beliefs.	Repealing the Johnson Amendment H.R. 172: To restore the Free Speech and First Amendment rights of churches and exempt organizations by repealing the 1954 Johnson Amendment was introduced in January 2017.  According to GovTrack.us it has a 2% chance of passing.	The 1st Amendment: Religious Liberty is protected.
Bar the government from discrimination against individuals & businesses for acting on the belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.	Endorsing the 1st Amendment Defense Act. NO ACTION	The 1st Amendment: Religious Liberty is protected.
Support the freedom of Americans to act in accordance with their religious beliefs.	Supporting the public display of the Ten commandments and affirming the rights of students to engage in voluntary prayer at public school events. NO ACTION	The 1st Amendment: Religious Liberty is protected.
Oppose any restrictions or conditions that would discourage participation in the public square or limit their ability to promote their ideas.	Repealing McCain Feingold, raising or repealing contribution limits. End the Fairness Doctrine. NO ACTION	The 1st Amendment: constitutionality of Protected Speech is protected.
Uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.	Preventing the President from installing a new liberal majority on the Supreme Court. H.R. 2098: Second Amendment Defense Act of 2017, Introduced in April 2017. According to GovTrack.us, this bill has a 3% chance of passing.	The 2nd Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected.
Uphold the right of individuals to bear arms.	Opposing laws that restrict magazine capacity or ban the sale of common modern rifles. Note: H.R. 4052: Keep Americans Safe Act prohibits the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes. This bill was introduced in September 2017 and has a 1% chance of success. Opposing any efforts to deprive individuals of their right to keep and bear arms. S. 1397: Protecting the Second Amendment Act.  This act protects people from being limited on the number of guns they purchase. According to GovTrack.us, it has a 6% chance of passing. Supporting firearm reciprocity legislation; S. 446: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. Introduced in February 2017, GovTrack.us gives this Senate bill a 10% chance of passing. H.R. 38: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. This bill passed in the House in December 2017. It goes to the Senate next with a 52% chance of approval. Supporting right to carry statutes Note:  H.R. 4268: Gun Safety: Not Sorry Act of 2017 would require a 7-day waiting period before a semiautomatic firearm, a silencer, armor-piercing ammunition, or a large capacity ammunition magazine may be transferred. This bill was introduced in November 2017 and has a 1% chance of passing.	The 2nd Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected.
Condemn lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers and harassment of gun dealers.	Opposing federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners, registration of ammunition, and restoration of gun bans. This means maintaining the status quo, no action required.	The 2nd Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected.
Affirm the 4th Amendment “right of the people to be secure in their houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.”	Calling for strict limits on the use of aerial surveillance on U.S. soil, with the exception of patrolling our national borders for illegal entry and activity. H.R. 487: To prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency from using an unmanned aerial vehicle to carry out a weapons strike or other deliberately lethal action and to transfer the authority to conduct such strikes or lethal action to the Department of Defense. Introduced in January 2017, this bill has a 2% chance of success.	The 4th Amendment: Liberty and Privacy is protected.
End governments warrantless seizure of personal financial information of Americans overseas.	Repealing FATCA S. 824: Restraining Excessive Seizure of Property through the Exploitation of Civil Asset Forfeiture Tools Act was introduced in April 2017 and has a 2% chance of enactment. H.R. 1843: Restraining Excessive Seizure of Property through the Exploitation of Civil Asset Forfeiture Tools Act. This bill passed in the House in September 2018 and has an 18% chance of enactment.	U.S. citizen living outside overseas can lead normal lives.
Assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.	Supporting a human life amendment to the Constitution; NO ACTION Supporting legislation to make clear that the 14th Amendment’s protection apply to children before birth. S. 231: Life at Conception Act of 2017 provides equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States for the right to life of each born and preborn human person. Introduced in January 2017, this bill has a 9% chance of success. S. 1456: Sanctity of Human Life Act provides that human life begins at fertilization was introduced in June 2017.  It has a 7% chance of being enacted into law. H.R. 586: Sanctity of Human Life Act provides that human life begins at fertilization was introduced in January 2017.  It has a 7% chance of being enacted into law.	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can “be deprived of life, liberty or property.”
Make it a crime to acquire, transfer, or sell fetal tissues from elective abortions for research.	Opposing public funds to perform or promote abortion or to fund organizations, like Planned Parenthood S. 184: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017. Introduced in January 2017, this bill has a 2% chance of becoming law. H.R.7 : No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017 passed the House in January 2017.  This bill has a 26% chance of becoming law.	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Ban the practice of misleading women on fetal harvesting consent forms.	Refusing to fund or subsidize healthcare that includes abortion coverage. H.R. 2019: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain abortions from the definition of qualified medical expenses for purposes of distributions from health savings accounts. This bill was introduced in April 2017 and has a 3% chance of becoming law.	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.	Opposing the non-consensual withholding or withdrawal of care or treatment including food & water, from individuals with disabilities, newborns, the elderly, or the infirm. Opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide. NO ACTION	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can “be deprived of life.
Affirm our moral obligation to assist women who face an unplanned pregnanacy.	Supporting legislation that requires financial responsibility for the child be equally borne by both the mother and the father. NO ACTION	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Add enforcement to the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act	Passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivor Protection act. H.R. 4712: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This bill passed in the House in January 2017.  It has a 32% chance of success.	Healthcare providers will face civil and criminal penalties who fail to provide treatment and care to an infant who survives an abortion.
Prohibit abortions after twenty weeks.	Passing a Capable Unborn child Protection Act. NO ACTION	Protect unborn babies at a point where they can feel excruciating pain.
End discrimination in its most lethal form.	Banning sex-selective abortions, abortions based on disabilities. NO ACTION	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can “be deprived of life.
Support adult stem cell research.	Banning embryonic stem cell research, federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, opposing federal funding for harvesting embryos; Banning human cloning. NO ACTION	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life.
Assure that private property can be taken only for true public use.	Supporting the Private Property Rights Protection Act. H.R. 1689: Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2017 was introduced in March 2017 and is currently in committee.  It has an 8% chance of approval.	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of life
End unscrupulous law enforcement officials that profit by destroying the livelihood of innocent individuals.	Enacting reforms to protect law-abiding citizens against abusive asset forfeiture tactics. S. 824: Restraining Excessive Seizure of Property through the Exploitation of Civil Asset Forfeiture Tools Act was introduced in April 2017 and has a 2% chance of enactment. H.R. 1843: Restraining Excessive Seizure of Property through the Exploitation of Civil Asset Forfeiture Tools Act. This bill passed in the House in September 2018 and has an 18% chance of enactment.	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of  property.
Guard against counterfeit part that can compromise the reliability of our weapons systems and the safety of military personnel.	Enforcing intellectual property laws against all infringers, whether foreign or domestic. H.R. 1048: To direct the President to impose duties on merchandise from the People’s Republic of China in an amount equivalent to the estimated annual loss of revenue to holders of United States intellectual property rights as a result of violations of such intellectual property rights in China, and for other purposes. This bill was introduced in February 2017 and has a 7% chance of becoming law.  (Note: the text of the bill does not specifically address weapons systems.)	The 5th Amendment  is protected, so that no one can be deprived of intellectual property
Restore the vertical separation of powers between the federal government and state government.	Stopping federal government from bullying states and local government regarding voter identification, immigration, healthcare programs, forced education curricula, school restroom policies, etc. The actions described takes is governed by policies of Secretaries of Homeland Security, Education, Health & Human Services.	The 10th Amendment is protected as the foundation of personal liberty.
Restore the vertical separation of powers between the federal government and state government.	Reducing and ultimately eliminating conditional grants. I found no information about eliminating conditional grants. Click here for additional information on Federal Grants.	State and local taxpayers can decide for themselves what is best for their own communities.
Uphold the Electoral College procedure.	Opposing the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or any other scheme to abolish or distort the Electoral College procedures. Note: Two resolution (H.R. ConRes 79 and H.J. Res. 19) in 2017 call for a Constitutional Amendment to implement election by popular vote. These are not bills, therefore, a projection of success is inappropriate.	Our Presidential Elections are honest.
Protect the voting rights of every citizen.	Supporting state efforts to ensure ballot access for the elderly, handicapped, military personnel, and all legitimate voters. Note: H.R. 607: Voter Access Protection Act of 2017 To prohibit election officials from requiring individuals to provide photo identification as a condition of obtaining or casting a ballot in an election for Federal office or registering to vote in elections for Federal office. Introduced in January 2017 has a 2% chance of becoming law.  H.R. 2499: Voting Access Act requires States to meet standards for the location and operation of polling places used in elections for Federal office, including a standard requiring States to ensure that no individual waits for longer than one hour to cast a vote at a polling place. Introduced in May 2017, his a 1% chance of success.	We have honest elections.
Oppose litigation against states that enact voter registration limitations.	Supporting legislation to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and securing photo ID when voting. Note: H.R. 607: Voter Access Protection Act of 2017 To prohibit election officials from requiring individuals to provide photo identification as a condition of obtaining or casting a ballot in an election for Federal office or registering to vote in elections for Federal office. Introduced in January 2017 has a 2% chance of becoming law.	We have honest elections.
Keep voter rolls accurate.	Urging every state to join the Interstate Voter Registration Cross Check Program H.R. 3091: Voter Roll Integrity Act of 2017 amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to limit the authority of State election officials to remove registrants from the official list of eligible voters in elections for Federal office in the State on the basis of interstate cross-checks, and for other purposes. Introduced in January 2017, it has a 4% chance of becoming law.	We have honest elections
Guard against foreign involvement in elections.	Calling for vigilance regarding online credit card contributions to candidates and campaigns. H.J.Res. 64: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to regulate campaign contributions for Federal elections and H.J. Res. 113 call for a Constitution amendment to prohibit foreign entities from contributing to campaigns.   These are not bills, therefore, a projection of success is inappropriate.	We have honest elections.
Ensure that citizenship, rather than residency, be made the basis for apportionment of representatives among the states.	Conducting the decennial census “in such a Manner as they shall by Law direct.” The H.R. 3600 Census Accuracy Act would mandate the 2020 Census includes a checkbox for respondents to answer from one of four options: citizen, permanent resident, has been granted legal status, or none of the above.  This bill was introduced in July 2017 and has a 11% chance of success.	Preserve the principle of one person, one vote.