The Republican Party Platform, 2020
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The Republican National Committee's Executive Committee voted on June 10, 2020, to adopt the same platform the party used in 2016. The decision accompanied a series of adjustments to the itinerary and location of the Republican National Convention due to the coronavirus pandemic, including reducing the number of in-person delegates attending the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 2,500 to 336, and canceling the meeting of the Platform Committee.[1][2]
Politico reported that both conservative and moderate Republicans were dissatisfied with the decision: "Social conservatives wanted new language on gender identity and late-term abortions. Social moderates said the current platform could alienate suburbanites."[3]
Responding to criticism, RNC national press secretary Mandi Merritt said, "It would not be right for a very small group to craft a new platform without all of the delegates present."[3] On June 12, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) called for a new and updated platform.[4]
The Republican National Committee adopted a resolution regarding the platform on August 22, 2020, that reiterated that the party would not adopt a new platform because "it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement." The resolution also noted the party's continued support for Trump's America First agenda.[5]
On August 23, 2020, Trump released a list of his core priorities for a second term in office.[6]
National party committees release platforms every four years before a presidential election. To read more about the 2020 presidential election, click here.
2020 Republican Party Platform Resolution
- See also: Republican National Convention, 2020
The following embedded document contains the text of a resolution adopted by the Republican National Committee on August 22, 2020, regarding the party's platform.
Trump's second-term agenda
- See also: Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020
Trump released the following list of core priorities for his second-term agenda on August 23, 2020.[6]
“ |
Building on the incredible achievements of President Donald J. Trump’s first term in office, the President’s re-election campaign today released a set of core priorities for a second term under the banner of 'Fighting for You!' President Trump’s boundless optimism and certainty in America’s greatness is reflected in his second-term goals and stands in stark contrast to the gloomy vision of America projected by Joe Biden and Democrats. President Trump will further illuminate these plans during his acceptance speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention. Over the coming weeks, the President will be sharing additional details about his plans through policy-focused speeches on the campaign trail. President Trump: Fighting for You! JOBS
ERADICATE COVID-19
END OUR RELIANCE ON CHINA
HEALTHCARE
EDUCATION
DRAIN THE SWAMP
DEFEND OUR POLICE
END ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS
INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE
AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY
DEFEND AMERICAN VALUES
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” |
—2020 Trump Presidential Campaign[6] |
2016 Republican Party Platform
The following embedded document contains the text of the 2016 Republican Party Platform.
Commentary on rolling over the 2016 platform
Party leaders and activists commented on the merits of rolling over the 2016 platform. Frequently mentioned issues include abortion, LGBT policy, foreign policy, and language that suggests criticism of the current administration.[3][8][9]
Republican Party members and activists
- Justin Clark, senior counsel for the Trump campaign: "President Trump won in 2016 with this platform and he’ll win again in 2020 with this platform.”
- Colleen Holcomb, president of the Eagle Forum: "Given the quarantine situation, we were concerned that decisions regarding the Platform not be made in proverbial smoke-filled rooms or through secret meetings in Washington, D.C."
- Terry Schilling, executive director of American Principles Project: "We can’t go into 2020 with the same platform we had in 2016, and by limiting the ability to make changes you run the risk of having a stale platform. It will be tone deaf."
- Jennifer Williams, 2016 national delegate: "Anything positive that the Trump administration has achieved in the last three years can’t be put into this document now because this document is frozen."
2016 Republican Platform Committee
The Platform Committee is the body responsible for drafting the party platform. It is a temporary committee that meets every four years at the Republican National Convention. Its membership is described below. Broadly speaking, the Platform Committee has three basic responsibilities:
- To draft the actual text of the party platform. This involves pinning down not only the issues that will be addressed in the platform but also the very language that presents the Republican Party’s stances on these issues. The process of drafting the platform begins several months prior to the beginning of the convention. National delegates are allowed to submit resolutions to the Platform Committee in writing without debate. It is common for advisers to the party's presumptive nominee to play a role in crafting the platform during this stage.
- To approve the text of the party platform by a majority vote of all committee members. This means that at least half of the committee members have to approve of the platform before it can be allowed to move forward.
- To present the platform to the convention for approval by all national delegates in attendance. A majority vote from the delegates at the convention is required for approval of the platform. This will take place after the convention approves the rules package presented by the Rules Committee and before the convention formally selects its nominee for President. If a majority of the convention delegates do not approve the platform, the committee returns to its meeting and begins working on finding a consensus.
The Platform Committee is made up of 112 Republican delegates to the national convention. Each state, territory, and Washington, D.C. has one male and one female delegate who sit on the committee. The delegates who serve on the committee are first elected or selected at state conventions in the Spring to serve as national delegates. Then, they are either elected by their fellow national delegates to serve on the committee or they are selected by a state executive committee.
The Republican National Chairman is responsible for appointing a chair and two co-chairs of the committee. The chair and co-chairs have traditionally been one governor, one U.S. Senator, and one member of the House of Representatives. In 2016, the chair was Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming. The co-chairs were Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma and Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina (NC-5). In 2012, the chair was Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and his co-chairs were Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee (TN-7).
See also
- Republican National Convention, 2020
- The Republican Platform and RNC Platform Committee, 2016
- The Republican Party Platform, 2008
- Democratic National Convention, 2020
- The Democratic Party Platform and DNC Platform Committees, 2016
- The Democratic Party Platform, 2012
- The Democratic Party Platform, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ CNN, "Republicans vote to significantly scale back official portion of Charlotte convention and make no changes to 2016 platform," June 11, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP votes to scale back Charlotte convention, move Trump acceptance speech," June 11, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Politico, "Republicans across the spectrum slam RNC's decision to keep 2016 platform," June 12, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "Trump calls for RNC to approve 'new and updated platform,'" June 12, 2020
- ↑ Republican National Committee, "Resolution Regarding the Republican Party Platform," accessed August 24, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Donald J. Trump, "Trump Campaign Announces President Trump's 2nd Term Agenda: Fighting for You!" August 23, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The New York Times, "G.O.P. Platform, Rolled Over From 2016, Condemns the ‘Current President,'" June 11, 2020
- ↑ The Washington Post, "The GOP’s decision to keep its 2016 platform is, well, a little awkward for Trump," June 11, 2020