Third Party Thursday Presents – The Alaskan Independence Party

Most of the dozens of third parties in the US are state-, region-, or issue-specific. A good example is the Alaskan Independence Party, which claims to have about 13,500 members, making it the state’s third largest party. If you live in Fairbanks, check out their party convention, going on this weekend at the Regency Fairbanks Hotel.

The Alaskan Independence Party is basically a libertarian party with Alaska-specific concerns. Among the party’s primary goals are:

1. A statewide referendum on statehood status, during which the party will support some form of independence for Alaska. This may not necessarily be complete secession from the US, but will definitely involve far greater independence for Alaska than current interpretations of the US Constitution allow.
2. A literal interpretation of the US and Alaska Constitutions. Interestingly, this may conflict with the party’s position on the 2nd Amendment. There are two types of Constitutional Literalists – Historical and Contemporary. Historical Literalists consider only late eighteenth-century meaning of the words in the Constitution – what the words meant when they were written. Contemporary Literalists consider only the meaning of the words as they are used today. The Alaskan Independence Party “supports the right of the individual to keep and bear arms,” but of course the 2nd Amendment does not say anything about individuals. Instead, it discusses “militias.” The eighteenth-century meaning of the word “militia” was men between the ages of 17 and 45 who are physically fit for military duty. Today’s meaning of the word militia most directly refers to the National Guard. Neither of these literal meanings of “militia” lends itself to an individual right to bear arms.
3. A return of all federally-owned lands in Alaska to Alaskan control.
4. The support of logging, mining, and other activities that use Alaska’s environment to support the state’s economy.
5. The abolition of all property taxes.
6. “Jobs for Alaskans…first! …Alaskans should have first crack at jobs here. We should not have to compete with people who do not live or love Alaska like we do.” There is at least one problem here. In the US Supreme Court case of Hicklin v. Orbeck (1978), the Court ruled that an Alaska law giving preference to Alaskans for jobs in the state’s oil and gas industry violated Article 4’s Privileges and Immunities Clause, which states that “the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.”

The party hit a high point in 1990-1994, when Walter Hickel, a party member, served as the state’s governor. Hickel opposed outright independence for Alaska, but did support some of the party’s other goals. He left the Alaskan Independence Party and rejoined the Republicans in 1994.

The party has not yet endorsed a candidate for president this year, but check back again after their convention this weekend. They may have made a choice!