CHRIS ROYAL

As for the Liberterian Party, we are betting on the Constitution. We believe in the Great Experiment called the United State of America. And when one studies how our Constitution was created, we come away with the understanding that what our forefathers created is a powerful document. Our forefathers were really quite simple. They were just farmers and wanted a place to practice their various faiths and live in peace with their neighbors. To this unsettled land, they brought with them their common sense. And with their common sense, they realized that no one should have absolute power. So they divided up the power into three parts with each part balancing the other parts. It's unbelievable really. And then not to forget the common man and woman, they crafted a Bill of Rights to keep the average person free from government control. These farmers had to fight to be free and they did. And that is why people from all over the world try to come and live in our country and enjoy our "Great Experiment."

The writers of our Constitution wanted to keep it simple and they only saw a few functions that the national government should have. Have you ever heard of the KISS pinciple? "Keep it simple, stupid." Most constitutional courses say there are only four functions in the Constitution, namely, the power to raise and maintain an army for self-defense. The power to create and run a post office. The power to govern the interstate commerce between the states. And finally, the power to pass legislation which we call laws. This is fairly simple, and that's the point I'm trying to make. When you boil down the Constitution to it's basics it's really pretty simple. And why did they want to keep it simple? So they could go back to their farms and live life in peace. Because isn't that what life is about? Namely, enjoying one's family and living with your neighbors in peace? It's just common sense. Which brings me to our final point.

Limit the federal government to the functions authorized by the United States Constitution.

• Preserve the candidate's limited-government principle without adopting inaccurate descriptions of constitutional powers.

Preserve the separation of federal powers and checks and balances among the branches of government.

• Preserve the structural constitutional principle without inventing institutional reforms.

Protect the individual liberties in the Bill of Rights from government intrusion.

• Preserve the rights principle while excluding historical rhetoric and generic party language.