Platform & Policy | Join the Movement Today — The American Humanist Party

Table of Contents

Part 1: Philosophical Foundation 1.1 The Humanist Vision The American Humanist Party draws its intellectual and moral foundation from Renaissance Humanism — the 15th century movement that placed humanity, reason, and civic responsibility at the center of scholarship and governance. We reject the rule of dogma and divine authority in public life, affirming that human beings, through education, reason, and cooperation, are the architects of a just and flourishing society.

→Human Dignity and Autonomy: Every individual possesses inherent worth. Governance must expand, not diminish, personal freedom and self-determination.
→Reason and Evidence: Policy shall be grounded in scientific consensus, empirical data, and rigorous analysis — never ideology, superstition, or manufactured ignorance.
→Civic Humanism: Citizens are educated participants in democracy, not passive subjects. The health of the republic depends on an informed, empowered, and engaged citizenry.
→Equity and Access: No person shall be denied the essentials of a dignified life — healthcare, education, housing, food, or legal protection — on account of birth, wealth, identity, or geography.
→Moral Responsibility: Morality is the code by which humans improve their own lives without harming others, exploiting resources, or abusing positions of power.
→Planetary Stewardship: The earth is the shared inheritance of all humanity. Its protection is a non-negotiable obligation of governance.

1.2 Separation of Faith and Governance The American Humanist Party upholds an absolute barrier between religious institutions and the instruments of government. The state shall pass no law, policy, or regulation grounded in religious doctrine, theology, or supernatural belief. Freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected individual right. Faith belongs in the hearts and homes of individuals — never in the halls of legislative power. 1.3 Democratic Republic with Humanist Social Contract The American Humanist Party governs within a democratic republic framework. Direct popular vote determines all elections. The federal government, funded by a transparent and simple tax system, provides foundational survival services to every citizen. Markets exist within this framework — innovation and private enterprise are encouraged — but no private interest may hold a monopoly over the essentials of human survival.

Part 2: Civil Rights, Human Rights and Equality 2.1 Universal Human Dignity No law, policy, regulation, or government action shall discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, immigration status, or any other protected characteristic. Human rights are not granted by government — they are inherent to being human, and government exists to protect them. 2.2 Voting Rights

→Universal automatic voter registration for all citizens upon reaching age 18.
→Voting by mail, early voting, and in-person voting are all federally guaranteed.
→Election Day is a paid federal holiday for all workers.
→All citizens with prior felony convictions have voting rights fully restored upon completion of sentence.
→Gerrymandering is prohibited. Districts are drawn by independent, nonpartisan commissions using algorithmic fairness standards.

2.3 Criminal Justice Reform

→Systemic reform of mandatory minimum sentencing, decriminalization of non-violent offenses, and robust diversion programs for mental health and addiction.
→No private prisons. All incarceration is administered by public institutions.
→Restorative justice principles incorporated at all levels of the judicial system.
→Law enforcement restructured to integrate social workers, mental health professionals, and community advocates.
→A county election office is established in every incarcerated facility. Every incarcerated person retains the right to vote.

Part 3: Electoral Reform and Popular Vote 3.1 Elections by Popular Vote

→The Electoral College is abolished. The President and Vice President are elected by national popular vote.
→All elections at every level — federal, state, and local — decided exclusively by popular vote. Winner must receive more than 50.01% of all valid votes cast.
→Where no candidate achieves 50.01%, a runoff election shall be held between the top two candidates within 30 days.
→Ranked-choice voting may be employed in primary elections to identify the top two candidates.

3.2 Term Limits

Office	Term Limit
Federal House of Representatives	Maximum 2 terms of 6 years each (12 years total)
State House of Representatives	Maximum 2 terms of 6 years each (12 years total)
Federal Senate	Maximum 1 term of 10 years
State Senate	Maximum 1 term of 10 years
President	Maximum 2 terms per existing constitutional provision
All other elected offices	Maximum 2 terms as defined by office statute

No elected official whose tenure coincided with a federal budget deficit exceeding 3% of GDP is eligible for re-election or re-appointment to any elected federal or state office.

Part 4: Congressional Reform and Governance Standards 4.1 Work Schedule and Session Requirements

→All public servants follow the national standard four-day work week.
→Members of Congress are required to work a minimum of 208 days per year, excluding personal leave and federal holidays.
→All representatives must travel between their Capitol and home district every three weeks.
→The filibuster is abolished. All legislation proceeds to an up-or-down vote.
→All introduced bills must be publicly posted at least 12 weeks prior to a vote.
→A vote of war requires a national general election with a majority of all voting citizens in favor.

4.3 Stock Trading and Conflicts of Interest

→No member of any legislative body may trade individual stocks, derivatives, or securities from the date of campaign filing through the end of their term and for two years thereafter.
→Blind trusts are required for all financial holdings during legislative service.

4.4 Government Salaries

Position	Salary Standard
All elected officials (every level)	Salary based on the federal minimum wage
All appointed government positions	Salary based on national average for equivalent profession
Prohibition	No elected official may receive outside compensation, board fees, or speaking fees during tenure

4.9 Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage is established at $33 per hour for all positions, all sectors, and all employment classifications.

Part 5: Campaign Finance Reform and Transparency

→Citizens United v. FEC is repealed by constitutional amendment. Corporate political spending is prohibited.
→PACs, Super PACs, and all independent expenditure organizations are illegal.
→Lobbying in any form at any level of government is prohibited. Registered lobbyists are barred from government employment for 10 years.
→Individual citizen campaign donations are capped at $100 per candidate per election cycle.
→No business, corporation, union, nonprofit, religious institution, or foreign entity may donate to any candidate, party, or political cause.
→All campaign income and expenditures are publicly accessible in real time on a federal transparency portal.
→Federal law requires all campaign marketing to be truthful. Deliberate misrepresentation of a candidate's voting record or military service is a federal offense.

Part 6: Taxation Framework

Citizens do not file tax returns. Employers are required by federal law to withhold and remit all applicable taxes directly to the federal government. Every citizen receives a Statement of Contributions annually confirming what was paid on their behalf.

6.2 Federal Income and Survival Taxes

Tax	Rate / Standard
Federal Income Tax	9% flat rate for all able-bodied working individuals
Survival Tax	2.75% flat rate for all able-bodied working individuals
Standard Deduction	$85,000 per individual
Income above Standard Deduction	Tax rate not to exceed 2.75%
Overtime Pay	No tax on overtime wages (1.5x hourly for hours above 32/week)
Social Security Income	No tax at any level of government
Terminal Illness	Zero tax obligation at all levels

The Survival Tax (2.75%) funds: Universal healthcare, universal childcare, social services, veterans care and housing, Social Security, public transportation infrastructure, energy supply, immigration support services, access to all public and national parks, infrastructure maintenance, and national security and defense. 6.3 Capital Gains and Investment Taxes

Category	Rate
Capital Gains — Citizens (income under $650,000)	Not to exceed 2.75% per year on net annual gain
Capital Gains — Business entities, financial firms	Flat rate not to exceed 2.75% per year
Net Investment Income Tax (income over $650,000)	Additional 1.375%
QSBS (Sec. 1202)	25% exclusion under 5 years held; 50% exclusion over 5 years

6.4 Property and Estate Taxes

Category	Standard
Personal Property — Under Cap	No property tax required at any level
Housing Cap	$650,000
Vehicle Caps	Vehicles $85,000 / Motorcycles $25,000 / Trailers $50,000 / RVs $125,000 / Boats $75,000
Personal Property — Exceeds Cap	Federal property tax not to exceed 2.75% of market valuation
Age Exemption	No federal property tax for citizens under age 32 or over age 72
Business / Commercial Real Property	3.75% federal rate on all valuations
Estate Tax	Not to exceed 2.75% (federal); not to exceed 1.375% (state)
Inheritance Tax	Prohibited at all levels of government

6.5 Retirement Accounts

→All retirement accounts are 100% tax-free on balances up to $2,000,000.
→Balances exceeding $2,000,000 are taxed at a rate not to exceed 2.75%.
→Early withdrawal penalty shall not exceed 2.75%. Exemptions include hardship and relocation for employment or medical necessity.
→Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are abolished. Citizens retain funds indefinitely.

6.6 Sales Tax

Category	Standard
National Sales Tax Cap	Not to exceed 11% (4x Survival Tax rate)
Exemptions	Food and beverage, clothing, medical items, essential personal items, professional services, personal travel, childcare, all fuel types, investment metals, product resale, federal entities
Tourist Sales Tax	Applied only on purchases over $1,000
Resort Tax	Prohibited

Part 7: Economic Reform and Monetary Policy

→The government must define the dollar in terms of a fixed weight of gold, restoring a hard money standard. Federal Reserve Notes are made fully redeemable for gold.
→The Federal Reserve Board Act is repealed. All regulatory and auditing functions transfer to the U.S. Department of Treasury.
→Legal tender is reformed to allow competing currencies — including gold and silver coin. The 2% inflation target mandate is revoked.
→A full, comprehensive, independent audit of all U.S. gold reserves — including Fort Knox — is mandated immediately upon enactment. Annual audits required and published publicly.

7.4 Emergency Hardship Loans

Standard	Detail
Loan Amount	Up to 40% of the borrower's annual gross income
Interest Rate Cap	2.75%
Minimum Repayment Term	24 months
Eligibility	All U.S. citizens experiencing documented financial hardship
Processing Time	No more than 14 days from application to disbursement

Federal commodities — raw earth materials, grains, energy materials, and food — are price-controlled. No commodity price may exceed the standard wholesale price in effect in 1971. This prevents speculation on survival goods and ensures basic nutrition and energy remain accessible to all.

Part 8: Consumer Banking and Financial Protection

→Consumers own their financial data. No institution may sell or share financial data without explicit, informed, and revocable consent.
→Banks are prohibited from closing or freezing accounts based on a customer's political views, religious beliefs, or lawful business activities.
→All account maintenance fees, overdraft fees, minimum balance fees, and all junk fees are prohibited.
→All interest rates on consumer loans, lines of credit, and credit cards are capped at 9% annually.

8.4 Micro Loans and Personal Investment Loans

Product	Terms
SBA Micro Loan	Maximum $1,500; cap of 3 active loans; interest capped at 1.375%; minimum term 6 months
High-Interest Personal Investment Loan	One-time, one-per-citizen; maximum $10,000; for any legal purpose; interest capped at 2.75%; minimum term 48 months

Part 9: Big Business, Antitrust and Market Fairness

Standard	Detail
Maximum Mergers / Acquisitions per Entity	3 total across the entity's lifetime
Maximum Post-Merger Market Share	9% of any defined market
Pre-Merger Notification Threshold	$2,000,000 (reduced from $126,400,000)
Review Period	Federal regulators must complete review within 60 days

→No AI system may replace human customer service representatives, call support staff, refund processors, or account service agents.
→Mandatory OSHA safety training required for all employees who hold a federal commercial driver's license.
→Stock buybacks are prohibited in all forms: open market purchases, tender offers, or structured repurchase agreements.

Part 10: Universal Healthcare

Healthcare is not a commodity — it is a fundamental right. The AHP abolishes the private insurance industry, private hospitals, and all for-profit medical services operating within the domestic healthcare system.

→All medical services, products, and medications are purchased by the federal government from private manufacturing entities.
→No citizen pays out-of-pocket for any medical service, product, or medication.
→All charges to individuals cannot exceed 2.75% of that individual's annual income.
→The federal government negotiates all pharmaceutical and medical equipment prices directly.
→All insurance services consolidated under Survival Insurance — a single federal non-profit program covering all lines including auto, flood, earthquake, workers compensation, and all events previously classified as Acts of God.

10.4 Medical Leave Policies

Leave Type	Benefit
Illness / Injury Leave	66% of salary for up to 18 months
Severe or Terminal Illness Leave	100% of salary for up to 2 years or length of terminal illness
Parental / Adoption Leave	100% salary for 6 months; option: +3 months at 75%, +4 months at 65%, +6 months at 55%
Mandatory Annual Leave	Minimum 30 days paid personal leave per year, funded by the federal government
Federal Holidays	Independence Day (July 4) and New Year's Day only

Part 11: Disability Rights and Inclusion

→Every person with a disability has the right to live independently in their home or a community-based setting. HCBS is expanded as a federally guaranteed entitlement.
→All home modifications required for disability accommodation, including full domicile reconstruction, are covered 100% by the federal government with no fees or cost-sharing.
→The sub-minimum wage for disabled workers is permanently abolished. No employer may pay any person with a disability less than $33/hour.
→All websites and apps for shopping, education, and public services must be fully WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliant.
→Asset cap rules causing disabled individuals to lose benefits are repealed. The marriage penalty for disabled persons is repealed.
→Telework is codified as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. Employers may not deny remote work to a qualifying disabled employee without demonstrating fundamental operational hardship.

Part 12: Housing and Homeownership

Standard	Detail
Minimum Down Payment	Not to exceed 1.375% of purchase price
Maximum Interest Rate (all mortgages)	Not to exceed 2.75%
First-Time Home Buyer Grant	$50,000 applied directly to loan principal; all closing costs waived
VA Loans	0% down for veterans, active-duty, and eligible surviving spouses and offspring
HUD Good Neighbor Next Door	20% discount for public servants, veterans, active military, recent graduates, EMTs, and medical personnel

→Eminent domain for private economic development is federalized and strictly limited.
→Just Compensation must exceed fair market value by a minimum of 15%.
→Citizens retain legal representation at federal expense throughout any eminent domain process.

Part 13: Disaster Relief and Emergency Management

Standard	Detail
Annual Deposit to Fund	1.375% of national GDP
Individual Assistance Coverage	100% of gap between insurance payout and total damages
Home Repair Maximum	$85,000 or 15% of home's pre-disaster value
FEMA Displacement Assistance	Up to 100 days of immediate housing — no cost to citizen or state

→Single-application system for all individual disaster aid. Application-to-payment shall not exceed 30 days.
→The Loan-First requirement is eliminated — disaster survivors are never required to apply for SBA loans first.
→Processing steps reduced from 49 to a maximum of 15.
→States cannot decline federal aid following a presidentially declared disaster.

Part 14: Labor, Workers and Worker Rights

Standard	Detail
Standard Work Week	32 hours (Monday through Thursday); weekends begin Friday
Overtime Threshold	Any time worked beyond 32 hours per week
Overtime Rate	1.5x hourly rate; fully exempt from all taxes
Calendar Reform	13 months of 28 days each
Paid Personal Leave	30 days per year, funded by the federal government — not the employer

→Union membership fees are waived by the federal government and itemized on employee paystubs. Fee rates cannot exceed 2.75%.
→All workers retain the right to organize, strike, and collectively bargain.
→Back-to-school items: 100% tax deductible; cap $1,000 per child under 17; $2,500 for anyone over 17 for life.
→Unified education tax credit: $5,000 per student enrolled at least half-time; $2,500 cash-back refundability.

Part 15: Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Standard	Detail
Sales Tax on Farm Operations	Zero — for the lifetime of the operation
Federal Tax on Farm Operations	Zero — for the lifetime of the operation
Covered Items	Equipment, land, livestock, supplies, medicine, tools, vehicles, trailers, and all administrative services
Eligibility	All farms registered with the USDA as active operations

→Right to Farm laws protect agricultural operations from private lawsuits related to odors, noise, and dust inherent to food cultivation.
→Guest workers receive the federal minimum wage ($33/hour) and all protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
→A Free Farmer's Market facility is established in every county in the United States, federally funded and maintained with onsite transit access.
→Federal funding provided for food banks in every county.
→All restrictive covenants preventing competing grocery stores from occupying vacated commercial spaces are banned.

Part 16: Universal Free Public Education

→Free public education from early childhood through post-secondary at all public institutions.
→Curriculum grounded in scientific consensus, critical thinking, and civic education. No religious instruction in any publicly funded educational setting.
→No fees of any kind: no application, tuition, administrative, processing, or undisclosed charges.
→Every student has equal access to fully funded public education regardless of zip code, family income, disability, or immigration status.
→Education resource allocation is equalized nationally — no district may receive less than the national per-pupil average.
→All public university and college tuition is free to citizens. Non-citizen tuition capped at $125 per credit hour plus $50 registration.

Part 17: Education Reform — Curriculum and Schedule

→Personal Finance Literacy required annually from 8th grade through 12th grade, building progressively in complexity.
→Modern Life Skills and Social Media Literacy required for all 12th grade students.
→Career-Ready Pathways and vocational training programs required for all high school students.

17.3 Year-Round Four-Day School Week

Standard	Detail
Schedule Cycle	7 weeks of instruction followed by 1 week off
Total Annual Instructional Days	182 days
School Days	Monday through Thursday
Early Childhood and K-5	7:10 AM to 3:10 PM
Grades 6-8	8:10 AM to 4:10 PM
Grades 9-12	9:10 AM to 5:10 PM

Start times are aligned with the scientific consensus on adolescent sleep development — later start times for older students improve academic performance, mental health outcomes, and long-term wellbeing.

→The Library of Congress must provide electronic copies of all media in its collection for free public access on its official website. No fees shall be charged for any Library of Congress digital content.

Part 18: Environment, Energy and Planetary Stewardship

→Energy — including electricity, gas, coal, and all emerging clean energy sources — is a human right. The federal government assumes full administration of all energy generation and delivery. Private energy monopolies are abolished.
→Federal expansion of nuclear energy infrastructure, administered and operated by the federal government.
→Strictest national standards for air and water quality, enforced by an empowered and independent EPA.
→85% federal tax credit for businesses developing carbon capture technology.
→Upfront federal investment for individual households adopting clean energy — not limited to corporations.
→100% federal reimbursement for rural tree planting after county or state conservation verification.

Part 19: Transportation

→All state and federal highways, roads, streets, and paths are fare-free for all users. No toll, usage fee, or access charge may be levied for any public road or path.
→All local, state, and federal rail and transit services are fare-free for all riders.
→Zoning reformed to require equitable transit-oriented development — affordable and public housing must be built near transit hubs.

19.4 Air Travel — Domestic Flight Price Caps

Distance	Maximum Fare
Under 1,500 flight miles	$99
Over 1,500 flight miles	$149
Over 2,000 flight miles	$199
Over 2,500 flight miles	$249
International (over 1,000 miles)	$750 maximum fare

→Airlines may not charge for booking or rebooking, baggage, seat selection, family seating, or any junk fee.
→Mandatory automatic compensation for all delays or cancellations — no exceptions for weather or mechanical failure.
→Automatic refunds issued for delays exceeding 30 minutes (domestic) or 1 hour (international).

Part 20: Consumer Protection and Price Transparency

The All-In Price Act: Every price listed for a product or service sold in the United States is the final, all-inclusive price a consumer pays. Surcharges, processing fees, convenience fees, service fees, booking fees, and all junk fees are prohibited.

→The printed price on any product is the price the consumer pays. If there is a pricing error, the provider covers the difference — not the customer.
→The Lemon Law is expanded to cover used vehicles with documented defects present at purchase.
→Direct-To-Consumer sales are federally legalized. No state may restrict DTC automobile or product sales.
→All products and services must carry the same price regardless of geography. Price discrimination by geography for the same product is prohibited.
→Subscription-based services must provide a Click-to-Cancel function prominently displayed on the account login screen.

Part 21: Internet, Social Media and Artificial Intelligence

→No person under the age of 18 may hold an account on any social media platform. Platforms must implement FTC-approved age verification.
→All AI companies must provide a clearly labeled Switch-Off AI function presented before account login.
→No data may be collected from any user without a clear, prior, explicit opt-in agreement. No user data may be sold without full disclosure and explicit user approval before each sale.
→Terms and conditions updates require 30 days public notice. No user agreement may include an arbitration clause that limits access to courts or class action rights.
→No AI system may be deployed in any government function without independent public audits. AI is prohibited in government contracting, funding allocation, procurement, financial systems, and emergency services.

Part 22: Federal Communications

→No unauthorized commercial use of any person's voice, image, or likeness via AI-generated content is permitted without explicit, written, revocable consent.
→Signal blackouts for any reason are prohibited. Broadcasters must maintain continuous service during negotiations.
→All federal broadcast grants must fund strictly local news production. All broadcast, cable, and streaming services are subject to equivalent public interest requirements.

Part 23: Immigration Immigration is administered directly by the Department of Justice. No sub-agency or militarized force shall exercise primary immigration authority. The border wall is dismantled.

→Federal immigration dormitories meet the same health, safety, and habitability standards as college dormitories. All dormitories provide onsite healthcare, daily meals, daycare services, and a social worker.
→Processing completed and closed within 90 days of arrival. Priority processing granted to families with children.

23.3 Fees and Costs

Fee	Cap
Individual Application Fee Cap	$50
All Immigration Fees and Services Cap	$1,200 per individual
Citizenship Application Fee Cap	$2,500 per household or $400 per individual
Citizenship Processing Time	Completed within 90 days of application submission

→3-year residency tracking period with monthly check-ins verifying employment, childcare, and legal standing.
→Immigrants pay federal income tax not to exceed 6.875% during residency. Upon naturalization, citizens receive a one-time tax deduction for all processing and application fees paid.
→Employers who sponsor immigrant workers receive a federal tax credit of $5,000 per sponsored individual per year of their residency requirement.

Part 24: Party Identity and Movement

Element	Detail
Name and Abbreviation	The American Humanist Party (AHP)
Symbol	The Torch of Reason — a flame carried forward from the Renaissance
Motto	Humanity First. Science Forward. Freedom Always.
Color: Teal	Wisdom, healing, and civic life — the color of the humanist tradition
Color: Gold	Knowledge, human achievement, and the pursuit of flourishing — the color of the Renaissance torch
Membership Fee	None. Participation is a right, not a privilege of wealth.
Membership Eligibility	All citizens and legal residents of the United States
Governance	Democratic: all major platform changes require a majority vote of registered members

The American Humanist Party Rooted in Renaissance Humanism. Grounded in science. Powered by civic participation.
Committed to the earth and all who share it.

Humanity First. Science Forward. Freedom Always.

Platform Data Sources

CBO Monthly Budget Review FY2025 · BEA GDP Q4 2025 Advance Estimate · BLS Current Population Survey 2025 · Census Bureau Population Estimates 2025 · CMS National Health Expenditure Data · KFF 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey · EPI Minimum Wage Simulation Model 2024 · NCES IPEDS 2023 · Federal Transit Administration FY2025 Budget · FHWA Highway Statistics 2023 · GAO Reports and Data · DOE Grid Deployment Office 2024 · DOJ Inspector General · CFPB Junk Fees Report 2023 · Federal Reserve Consumer Credit G.19 2024 · OpenSecrets Annual Lobbying Report 2024 · EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey · FEMA Congressional Budget Justification FY2025