The Politician's Creed (TPC)

A Public Commitment to the People Who Grant Power

The candidate whose badge brought you here has made a deliberate, public commitment: to govern in service to their constituents rather than party, donors, or personal advancement.

The articles of The Politician’s Creed are a set of explicit expectations that define the proper relationship between an elected official and the people they serve. Each article exists to restore a standard that has eroded over time—one in which power flows upward from the citizen, not downward from institutions.

You are encouraged to read each article below carefully and consider its implications. The candidate who adopts them does so with full awareness that political life involves constant pressure from party leadership, interest groups, media narratives, and short-term incentives that often conflict with the public good. For that reason, the commitments of these articles should not be carried by the candidate alone. Rather, as you read each one, consider what you as the constituent can do to help bring about the strongest effect of that article. In doing so, you transform the Articles of The Politician's Creed from an oath given by the candidate to a covenant between the constituents and their candidate.

THE ARTICLES OF THE POLITICIAN'S CREED:

Article 1: A Foundation of Rights and Security

“All people have the right to a fair, equitable, and happy life, unburdened by fearful concerns of food, shelter, or medical insecurities. As a candidate pursuing office and a politician holding office, I hold these rights to be my guiding light.”

This is a core tenet that brings focus to one of our most foundational guiding principles as a nation: that all of us have a right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” While these concepts are broad in stroke and open to interpretation, we believe that a nation that empowers its people can only do so when said people are healthy and safe.

We expect the politicians following this tenet to get into the habit of asking themselves in the face of each decision they must make and each bill they must vote upon, “How does this decision (or this bill) serve to produce an ever-greater life for our citizens, lessening their concerns regarding food, shelter, or medical insecurities?”

Read, in its entirety, the first of America’s Founding Documents: The Declaration of Independence. Do you feel that we as a nation are still upholding the principles of this declaration? Article 1 above is a vow to the spirit of the foundation upon which our Declaration is made: “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”

Article 2: The Public Servant

"I am a public servant first and foremost, here to protect and serve the rights of my constituents; and to hold myself accountable unto them.”

This core tenet is a reminder that the primary responsibility of a politician should first and foremost be to the whole of their constituents, not to a select minority among them or corporate interests working juxtaposed to Article 1 above.

We expect the politicians following this tenet to work to avoid the narcissism that may come with holding office; to have or develop an intuitive sense of responsibility to their constituents. We expect them to seek out and follow multiple role models of this tenet worthy of emulating in office. We expect them to act in accordance with the principles espoused by their role models. We expect to hear them speak about these principles and how these principles play into the decisions they are making.

Read, in its entirety, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Inaugural Address. Bear in mind as you read it, that while many here in America think that the Russian/Ukrainian war began on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been at war with Russia since Russia first invaded and seized Crimea and the Donbas region in 2014. While Zelenskyy is an excellent role model, we have many within our own shores as well – who are or will be some of your public servant role models?

Did you know? In an almost fairy-tale circumstance, prior to becoming President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a comedian and actor who carried the lead role in a Ukrainian TV series called “Servant of the People” in 2015. In this series, he played the role of a high-school history teacher, who is unexpectedly elected President of Ukraine after a video filmed by one of his students goes viral showing him making a profane rant against the rampant corruption in Ukraine’s government. In the 3 years the series ran, his character learned how to do the job of president and eventually began dismantling the oligarch-driven government corruption. This series resonated so tremendously with the people of Ukraine, that they formed a political party of the same name, Servant of the People, and propelled the actor Zelenskyy into the real position of President in 2019, bringing to real-life the amazing story of teacher Vasily Goloborodko. Zelenskyy won with 73% of the vote.

Article 3: Alignment

“I shall do my best to remain informed of the needs of my constituents and in turn to align my priorities and goals in office to address those needs.”

This tenet is designed to support Article 2 in that an ongoing effort must be made to remain connected to the people the politician represents. Failure in this effort leads to failure in Article 2. Success in this effort leads to success in office, reduced costs of campaigning, and greater defense against losing or being pushed out of office.

We expect the politicians following this tenet to work to create open channels of communication between their constituents and themselves; and to make certain their constituents are aware of these channels and how to access them.

Refer back to your mentors from Article 2. How do they handle the communications with their constituents? Will you be able to do a better job? If you are endorsed by The Oath of Office, you will receive training, tools, and support for this Article 3.

Article 4: Honesty, Integrity, Transparency

“I will perform my roles in office with Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency, knowing that doing so will add the greatest value for my community over my term in office.”

This is a core tenet that also strongly supports Articles 1-3. Exercising and having a reputation for honesty, integrity, and transparency helps protect the politician from corruptive influences. Likewise, imposing transparency on the office forces corruption into the light where it can be addressed, while gaining the politician greater confidence from his/her constituents. A HIT ethos also keeps a politician's focus on outcomes. Success in developing a HIT ethos reputation further protects the politician against losing or being pushed out of office; and increases the politician’s ability to bring about beneficial programs and change to their community.

We expect the politicians following this tenet to demonstrate honesty and transparency in their speech and to wear their integrity on their sleeves – meaning their principles are obvious and consistently followed or enforced. In public gatherings or town hall meetings, this translates to direct and meaningful answers to constituents’ questions.

Article 5: Protecting the Vulnerable

“I shall work to enable the public good and protect the most vulnerable within our community.”

This tenet focuses on actions-in-office and their outcomes while also reinforcing Articles 1 and 2. This tenet is a reminder that the state of the most vulnerable in a society is a barometer of the overall health of that society.

We expect the politicians following this tenet to demonstrate a “no man left behind” mentality and, should it be within the purview of their office, to voice and propose creative solutions for addressing homelessness, poverty, food scarcity, and the lack of opportunity. It is this mentality that leads towards a politics of abundance by driving politicians to come up with real win-win and positive-sum solutions.

How would you apply this tenet to various offices in your state? For example, State House Representative? City Councilman? School Board Director?

Article 6: Engagement

"I shall empower our community to political action through outreach and mentorship that aligns with the rights defined above.”

This tenet builds on Article 3 and supports the transparency requirement of Article 4.

We expect the politicians following this tenet to use the channels created in Article 3 to openly communicate with their constituents regarding all upcoming policy decisions. The politician should request and promote the engagement of their constituents in reading and understanding any bills that will affect their community. Through this process, the politician’s community may create better-informed candidates who the politician can promote into other seats or eventually replace themselves with.

If you are endorsed by The Oath of Office, you will receive training, tools, and support for this Article 6.

Article 7: Accountability

“I understand that it is the responsibility of all politicians to recognize their limitations and conflicts of interest and to be held accountable to their constituents by election, impeachment, or recall in the face of such limitations and conflicts.

It is with this understanding that I shall neither promote nor support any law or policy that seeks to undermine our election or recall processes. Furthermore, I will work to repeal any laws that act to suppress or reduce a citizen’s ability to rightfully hold their representatives in office accountable.”

This is a core tenet for returning accountability of politicians to the public who put them into office.

We expect the politicians following this tenet, should they be in an office with the position to influence such things, to identify and work to repeal laws that work against one citizen / one vote and to promote laws that support election transparency and non-partisan control of the election process. We also expect them to identify and work against laws that are designed primarily to hamstring political opponents - as such laws deny the people who would vote for those opponents the value of their vote.

What is the legislation in your state regarding voting, election transparency, voter de-registration, etc?

If your candidate has taken this oath, know that they are putting a lot on the line. They have a made a commitment that is public for all to see and will not fade over time. These are the candidates we should all support - beyond that one voting day and the occasional campaign contribution every two or four years. If you would like to learn how to work as a community with your candidate in office, to consistently hold them accountable to their oath, while strengthening their effect and position in office, contact Laboratories of Democracy and we will send you information on how to form a powerful partnership with your candidate(s).

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