Of the People Charter

Our Vision

Our vision is that the United States of America remains a free and just democracy, committed to the democratic principles upon which it was conceived: a nation of, by, and for the people.

Our Mission

Our mission is to give a collective voice to the more than 32,000 US voters in Switzerland and their allies to defend and strengthen American democracy.

Our Principles

The core democratic principles for which we advocate are:

  • Rule of law: Laws and the power of the state must be applied equally, regardless of status or position, and adjudicated via an independent and impartial judiciary. Especially important is the application of laws that limit official power and prevent public corruption.
  • Free & fair elections: Elections must be transparently and fairly administered, with predictable rules for voters and candidates. Incumbent officials should not be able to use political power to influence electoral outcomes, and eligible voters should be able to vote freely.
  • Civil rights (due process, freedom of expression and assembly, as guaranteed by the Constitution): The fundamental right to express opinion and to organize and advocate for political causes without facing arbitrary restraint or consequences is critical to the function of democracy.

Our operating principles are:

  • Non-partisanship
    • We are unaffiliated with political parties, and do not advocate for any party or policy platform beyond our core principles. We will, however, advocate for the election of pro-democracy candidates, because we can’t defend democracy without the support of elected officials.
  • Inclusion
    • We are open to anyone regardless of nationality, political affiliation, religion, or creed. Everyone who participates with us should feel valued, respected and empowered.
  • Non-Violence
    • We don’t believe in violent resistance, and are committed to non-violent forms of activism.

Switzerland and the United States share a historical commitment to robust democratic principles. We aim to support and defend those common ideals.

Our Action

To further our mission, we prioritize actions by their impact and by the opportunity they present to our members in Switzerland to exercise their shared voice. We will undertake:

  • Education
    • Enable our members and allies to understand and speak knowledgeably about democratic principles and why they matter.
    • Media outreach, to educate Swiss and European audiences about the grave threats to American democracy.
  • Advocacy
    • Enable our members and allies to show public support for preserving democracy and the rule of law in the United States, and to advocate concrete policies that support that democracy.
  • Public demonstrations to show the world that Americans stand for their democracy.
  • Supporting voter registration and participation by Swiss voters abroad.

Last updated: May 18, 2025