People's Law
Not Anarchy & Not Tyranny

Bottom Line Up Front: People’s Law – Not Anarchy or Tyranny is our compass. We will restore constitutional order, ensure public safety under just laws, and guarantee that government at all levels in Colorado operates with the consent of the governed – neither oppressing the people nor neglecting to protect them.

a. Biblical & Historical Foundations: Our founders sought a balanced center between the chaos of anarchy and the oppression of tyranny. They crafted a system of People’s Law, drawing on the consent of the governed under God. This concept has roots in biblical governance: Moses, guided by Jethro’s advice, appointed leaders over tens, fifties, hundreds (Exodus 18:21) – a structured, representative system avoiding both lawlessness and pharaoh-like tyranny. The Mayflower Compact (1620) was an early expression of people forming a civil body politic by mutual consent under God. The U.S. Constitution later embodied People’s Law by instituting government by elected representatives, bound by a written law (Constitution) that the people could amend. “We the People…establish this Constitution.” True liberty lives in this balance: no king or elite has absolute power (Lex Rex), and also no mob or faction is unchecked – all are under the rule of law made by the people’s representatives.

b. Constitutional Justification: Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution guarantees each state a “Republican Form of Government,” meaning government by the people’s elected representatives, not monarchy (tyranny) and not direct mob rule – democracy- on every issue (anarchy). The Federalist Papers (esp. No. 10 and No. 51) explain how our system controls the extremes: checks and balances prevent tyranny, and the rule of law prevents anarchy. We stand to reinforce People’s Law in Colorado: laws must reflect the will of the people (expressed through votes or elected legislators) and remain within constitutional bounds that safeguard against tyranny of the majority or of a dictator. We believe in robust public participation – through elections, referenda, initiatives – so that laws have legitimacy. At the same time, individual rights (God-given and constitutional) must be protected from violation even if a temporary majority favors it, preventing tyranny of the majority or democracy.

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c. Colorado Policy Conflicts: Colorado has a proud tradition of direct democracy (initiatives and referenda), an expression of People’s Law. However, recent years have seen concerning trends:

1. Executive Overreach (Tyranny Risk): During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw broad executive orders issued with minimal input – businesses closed, gatherings limited by decree. While emergency action can be necessary, prolonged rule by executive orders sidelined the people’s legislature. We will reform emergency powers to require legislative approval for extensions, thus restoring People’s Law and averting soft tyranny.

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2. Lawlessness (Anarchy Risk): Conversely, in summer 2020 civil unrest, parts of Colorado experienced riots, property destruction, and calls to “defund the police.” A society without order is not truly free – it’s dangerous anarchy. While peaceful protest is a sacred right, violent rioting is an assault on People’s Law. We support our law enforcement and the rule of law to ensure public safety. We will push Colorado to crack down on organized destruction (while still addressing any abuses via accountability). People’s Law means no one can take law into their own hands violently.

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3. Bypassing Voters: Colorado’s legislature and governor at times have tried to sidestep the people. For instance, fees vs. taxes – lawmakers label new revenue “fees” to avoid the TABOR requirement to ask voters. This undermines People’s Law by evading direct consent. We will insist any significant fee be referred to voters or otherwise brought under TABOR, restoring the people’s voice in taxation. Another example: The adoption of the National Popular Vote Compact in 2019 (assigning Colorado’s electoral votes to the national vote winner) was initially passed legislatively, but enough citizens petitioned it to the ballot (Prop 113, 2020) where it was narrowly upheld. Regardless, we remain concerned that this policy could dilute Colorado voters’ influence – a small step away from the republican principle of state-by-state choice, tending toward direct national democracy that our Founders warned could become mob rule. We advocate reevaluating such policies in light of preserving balanced federalism and the voice of Colorado’s people.