Party Platforms

What do the parties believe?

  • Vision

    The Vision Party believes free expression must be equally accessible to all people online and that neither governments nor private corporations should have the power to censor public discourse.

  • Compassion

    The Compassion Party believes that while free speech is a vital right, the government should limit harmful online rhetoric such as extremism, threats, and misinformation in order to protect society and uphold social responsibility.

  • Perseverance

    The Perseverance Party believes freedom of speech is a fundamental constitutional right that must remain protected from government oversight, even when open discourse involves risk.

The 2026 Elections Topic:

First Amendment: Freedom of Speech and Expression in a Digital Age

In the modern world, the right to free expression has never been more crucial or more complex. All Americans are guaranteed this freedom by the First Amendment, and the 21st century has brought with it new ways of expressing beliefs and opinions. The opportunity to engage in public discourse is readily available via the internet, and people from across the political landscape make use of that opportunity to disseminate information, rally voters, and persuade new members. However, this new medium for speech has not come without consequence. The online public square has made possible the rapid spread of misinformation, extremism, violent rhetoric, and encouraged the gathering of groups intent on criminal activity and threatening public safety. In response, an effort has been made to stop the spread of harmful rhetoric by censoring those who hold possibly offensive views. To solve the unique issues of free expression in the 21st century, each party must seek a solution that protects the rights of the people while also promoting public safety and security.

Where do the parties stand?

PERSEVERANCE PARTY: 

The Perseverance Party believes that government intervention is never the most trustworthy solution to the problems society faces. There are certainly risks associated with unchecked free communication, but the alternative is worse. Stifling freedom of speech, whether to pursue equal representation, social responsibility, or some other goal, is not the answer. Public discourse must be kept open, even when this opportunity is abused in order to promote potentially harmful viewpoints. The Perseverance Party believes that freedom of speech is too precious of a right to be tampered with or changed by government oversight or control. It is important to be able to take risks in pursuit of protecting the First Amendment.

VISION PARTY:

As much as some may wish to ignore it, the world is not perfect and the internet age has amplified the world’s imperfections. However, tremendous power currently rests in the hands of a few technology and social media companies who have the ability to effectively censor the public. Corporations should not control discourse, and there need to be new policies in place which ensure that equal access to free expression is guaranteed. In an era when so much speech takes place online, the ability to speak freely on the internet must be kept open for all. The Vision Party believes that policies should be created to guarantee that no entity, government or private, has the power to limit the right to freedom of speech.

COMPASSION:

The most important thing to consider when discussing free speech in the modern era is social responsibility. While it is definitely important to protect the right of law-abiding citizens to express themselves, not all speech is equal. The internet age has made it possible for anyone to communicate anything at any time, and that is incredibly dangerous. Extremism, threats of violence, and large-scale misinformation have become all too common on many communication platforms, and these online problems have manifested in the real world in the form terrorism, civil unrest, and loss of trust in foundational institutions. The Compassion Party believes the government should play a role in stopping such evils by restricting the opportunity to participate in such rhetoric.

Guidelines For Candidates

Why this Campaign Issue?

Freedom of speech is one of the foundational rights in American democracy. It protects political debate, religious expression, criticism of government, and the exchange of ideas that allow citizens to govern themselves.

Yet in today’s world, the meaning and limits of free speech are increasingly debated. The rise of digital communication has made speech more powerful than ever before.

This issue encourages candidates and voters to think carefully about:

  • the role of the First Amendment

  • the limits of speech

  • the responsibilities of citizens

  • the role of government and private companies

  • the tension between liberty and security

The ideas discussed here shape how society approaches law, politics, and culture.

How to research this Campaign Issue

As candidates prepare for this discussion, we encourage everyone to approach the topic with grace, humility, and truth.

Candidates should consider:

  • What protections does the First Amendment guarantee?

  • Are there constitutional limits to free speech?

  • What role should government play in regulating dangerous rhetoric?

  • Should private companies have the ability to censor online content?

  • How do speech protections apply in the internet era?

Candidates should:

  • master key terms such as free speech, censorship, incitement, misinformation, and public safety

  • adhere clearly to their party’s stance

  • understand the strengths and weaknesses of all three positions

  • research constitutional principles

  • communicate clearly and persuasively in debates, forums, and press releases

The strongest candidates will demonstrate not only strong convictions, but also thoughtful reasoning about how liberty and responsibility should coexist.

When researching the issue of freedom of speech in the digital age and forming viewpoints and opinions, it is important for candidates to reference and utilize reliable sources. As you research, do your best to follow these general guidelines:

  • First-degree sources are the most reliable and the original source of information or data. These include government databases (FRED, US Dept. of Educ.) and peer-reviewed academic journals. 

  • Second-degree sources are also reliable and based on first-degree or easily-verifiable information. These include historically credible newspapers (New York Times, Washington Post, WORLD News Group), or other similarly vetted media. 

  • Third-degree sources make up most other forms of media. While they can be useful, they require more explicit verification. When in doubt, consider the credibility of the sources these media cite. Generally, if media has cryptic, unreliable, or missing sources, it is best to avoid using them.

  • Use of Generative AI is encouraged in research but prohibited in all campaign material. AI is a wonderful tool for compiling sources and summarizing information, but it often makes mistakes. Therefore, the best use of AI for your campaign is to use AI internet search features (such as what’s seen on ChatGPT or Perplexity) to help you find more reliable sources faster. Remember that AI is a research tool, NOT a writing tool. You are expected to prepare all of your press releases, debate statements, etc. in your own words. The National Convention Elections team will not accept any documents written by/with the help of generative AI. 

Thank you for participating in this aspect of TeenPact Elections! We’re excited to hear your insights, and are convinced each of you will display your leadership and spiritual maturity in this exciting process!   

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