The Small Government Pledgesm
for Candidates

"As a candidate for public office, I promise that, if elected:

"I will vote small government. Every issue. Every time. No exceptions. No excuses.

"I will actively and ambitiously initiate and support actions to make government small.

"Specifically, I promise:

1. I will sponsor, advance, and vote for bills and legislation to shrink the size, power, spending, taxes, debt, and liability of today's Big Government.
   
2. I will introduce, support, and vote only for government budgets that are smaller than this year's budget.
   
3. I will vote against every government budget that spends the same amount or more than this year's budget.
   
4. I will introduce and vote for legislation that repeals or reduces today's Big Government Programs.
   
5. I will vote against all new or expanded government programs, all tax increases, and any new debt.
   
6. I will vote against any bill that I have not read and thought through.
   
7. No communication from me, my representatives, or my staff will contradict or violate the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates.
   
8. I will endorse and support only candidates who take the Small Government Pledge^sm or whose promises and actions are consistent with the Small Government Pledge^sm. I will never support, directly or indirectly, a Big Government candidate, politician, or proposal.
   
9. I will be accountable to voters. Upon request, I will make public every vote I cast while in office."

Terms and Conditions of Use of the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates

If you're a small government candidate, the Center For Small Government invites you to apply for certification as a Signer of the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates. If certified by the Center For Small Government, and if you comply with all of the following terms and conditions, we grant you permission to use the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates in your campaign:

1. You run a campaign that prominently features your pledge to work to enact a small government proposal that contains all 10 high impact ingredients. You promote this proposal and its benefits relentless during your campaign at every opportunity. You feature it at your web site "above the fold." Everyone who visits your web site or hears you speak will know that this is the primary reason you're running for office.


2. Your application for the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates is considered a signing of the standard Small Government Pledge^sm (for voters), i.e., you commit to vote only for other small government candidates on Election Day.


3. You have read - carefully - the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates, you understand it, and you promise to speak and act in accordance with it. Every issue. Every time. No exceptions. No excuses. If you are unclear of the meaning of any provision of the Pledge, you contact the Center For Small Government for clarification.


4. You prominently post the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates with its service mark (SM) and its above nine promises, or provide a link to this web page, on your campaign web site.


5. If you have served in public office, you publish or provide upon request your full voting record. That record must demonstrate compliance with the Small Government Pledge^sm. Exceptions may be granted if you have thoroughly recanted any past support for Big Government and have diligently attempted to reverse its effect.


6. If you fail to keep your Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates, or change your mind about it, you will immediately remove the Pledge and all references to it from your campaign communications and advertising.


7. The Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates is intended for effective, persuasive campaigns that abide by all terms of the Pledge. The Center for Small Government reserves the right to deny or revoke your use of the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates at any time at the Center's sole discretion.


8. If a representative from the Center For Small Government notifies you that you must discontinue use of the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates, you will immediately remove the Pledge and all references to it from your campaign communications and advertising.

If as a candidate you agree to the above terms, and if you are committed to run for a particular office in 2007 or 2008, click here to apply for the Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates.

The Small Government Pledge^sm for Candidates is intended for candidates running for a particular office in a particular election year. If you plan to run for office at an unspecified time in the future, please sign the standard Small Government Pledge^sm for voters today instead and sign the Candidates Pledge when you're ready to run for office.

Know any candidates who may qualify for the Small Government Pledge^sm? Please send them to this web page and ask them to take the Pledge.