- Date:
- 1971 - present
- Areas Of Involvement:
- libertarianism
- Related People:
- Gary Johnson
- Ron Paul
- David Koch
- Bob Barr
Libertarian Party
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What is the Libertarian Party?
The Libertarian Party is a U.S. political party that was founded in 1971. It is based on the principles of libertarianism, supporting individual rights to have sole authority over their lives and opposing the traditional services, regulatory measures, and coercive powers of the government.
Libertarians advocate for a completely free market, the repeal of income taxes, and the replacement of most government services with private arrangements. They also defend individual liberties like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and the choice of abortion, while opposing censorship and laws against victimless crimes. The party's platform is established at semiannual conventions.
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When and why was the Libertarian Party founded in the United States?
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 in Westminster, Colorado, advocating for libertarianism, which emphasizes individual freedom and minimal government intervention. The party opposes government intrusion and supports individual rights to make personal choices.
The party emerged to give people more authority over their lives. It opposes traditional government services, regulations, and coercive powers. It calls for a free market, the repeal of income taxes, and the end of regulatory bodies.
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What are the main beliefs or principles of the Libertarian Party?
The Libertarian Party is a U.S. political party founded in 1971 that is based on the principles of libertarianism. It supports individual rights over the traditional powers of government.
Libertarians believe in a completely free market, advocating for the repeal of income taxes, the elimination of regulatory bodies, and the privatization of services like Social Security and the post office. They also defend individual liberties, opposing censorship, supporting the right to bear arms, and defending the choice of abortion. The party opposes laws against "victimless" crimes like gambling and drug use.
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How does the Libertarian Party differ from the Democratic and Republican parties?
The Libertarian Party champions individual freedom, advocating minimal government intervention in personal and economic realms, contrasting with the Democratic and Republican parties' approaches.
Libertarians favor a completely free market, seeking to abolish income taxes, reduce regulations, and privatize services like Social Security and the post office. They defend individual liberties, opposing censorship, supporting gun rights, and advocating for the repeal of laws against "victimless" crimes.
This stance differs from Democrats, who generally support government regulation and social programs, and Republicans, who typically favor more conservative social policies and a strong national defense.
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What are some issues or policies the Libertarian Party supports?
The Libertarian Party's platform is based upon the political philosophy of libertarianism, which values individual freedom and private associations, especially in the economic sphere.
Policies and issues that the Libertarian Party supports:
* Eliminating income tax and abolishing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
* Phasing out Social Security and governmental aid to the poor
* Ending government environmental regulation to allow civil suits for environmental injuries
* Repealing legal restrictions on abortion
* Laissez-faire capitalism
* Opposing most forms of economic regulation, including those for the environment, and worker health and safety
* Rejecting most public services, public education, public health insurance (Medicare and Medicaid), and government-provided unemployment assistance and retirement benefits (Social Security)
* Opposing all forms of censorship and governmental regulation of private activities that do not entail harm to others, including sexual relationships and drug use1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Who are some notable candidates or leaders from the Libertarian Party in U.S. history?
The Libertarian Party, established in 1971, supports individual rights against government intervention.
Some notable Libertarian candidates include:
* Edward E. Clark: He was the party's presidential candidate in 1980 when the party reached its peak, achieving ballot access in all 50 states. Clark received 921,199 votes, about 1% of the national total.
* Gary Johnson: As a former New Mexico governor, Johnson was the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate in both 2012 and 2016. In 2016, he received about 4.5 million votes.
* Jo Jorgensen: She was the Libertarian presidential nominee in 2020.
* Spike Cohen: He was Jo Jorgensen's running mate in the 2020 presidential election and also a vice presidential nominee in 1996.The party has consistently attracted hundreds of thousands of votes in presidential elections and has had members elected to local and state offices, particularly in the West.
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Libertarian Party, U.S. political party devoted to the principles of libertarianism. It supports the rights of individuals to exercise virtual sole authority over their lives and sets itself against the traditional services and regulatory and coercive powers of federal, state, and local governments.
The Libertarian Party was established in Westminster, Colorado, in 1971 and fielded its first candidate for the presidency in the next year’s elections. In 1980 it achieved its height of success when it was on the ballot in all 50 states, and its presidential candidate, Edward E. Clark, a California lawyer, received 921,199 votes. Although this vote represented only about 1 percent of the national total, it was enough to make the Libertarian Party the third largest political party in the United States. Libertarian candidates ran in every subsequent presidential election, and several of its members were elected to local and state office, particularly in the West. Though subsequently the party failed to match its 1980 total, its presidential candidates consistently attracted hundreds of thousands of votes, and from 1992 the party consistently secured ballot access in all 50 states. In 2000 the party contested a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, and though it captured no seats, its candidates combined to win 1.7 million votes. The party maintains a national office in Washington, D.C., and has affiliates in every state. The Cato Institute, a public-policy research organization, was founded in 1977 in part by prominent members of the Libertarian Party.
In opposing the purported right of the state “to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labour,” the Libertarian Party contends that a completely free market is a necessary economic condition for prosperity and liberty. To this end most Libertarians call for the repeal of personal and corporate income taxes; the replacement of most government-provided services, including Social Security and the post office, with private and voluntary arrangements; the repeal of regulations, including minimum wage and gun-control laws; and the dismantling of all regulatory bodies that do not promote freely contracted trade. In supporting an individual’s “right to liberty of speech and action,” the Libertarian Party opposes all forms of censorship, insists on the right to keep and bear firearms, and defends the choice of abortion. Noting that “the initiation of force against others” constitutes a violation of fundamental rights, the Libertarian Party supports the prosecution of criminal violence and fraud but also advocates the repeal of laws against such “victimless” crimes as gambling, drug use, and prostitution.
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Libertarian Party principles are incorporated into its platforms, which are established at semiannual conventions of national party officers and delegates from state affiliates. To direct the ongoing functions of the party, convention delegates elect an 18-member Libertarian National Committee, composed of a chairperson and 3 other officers, 5 at-large members, and 9 regional representatives. Presidential candidates are elected by a simple majority of convention delegates. The party publishes a number of pamphlets and newsletters, including the Libertarian Party News (monthly).