Political Party Platform

• Candidates running for public office and political parties adopt principles and policies. These written policies reflect the candidate's or group's views on various issues. Political statements take center stage during presidential campaigns and are usually written by a committee at the party's national convention. Merriam Webster refers to this statement plan as a platform.
  
  

Content of the Platform Statement

• The American Presidency Project details political party platforms. These documents are formal, have a themed title and sometimes even carry a preamble. They are lengthy and address a broad base of topics that deal with current social, economic and international issues. Some examples of subjects that are addressed include homeland security, immigration, taxes, the budget, the national debt, the military and healthcare. The platform statement also sets out a party's ideas for reform.
  
  

Beauty Pageants and Platform Statements

• Beauty pageants often ask that their contestants write an essay called a platform statement. This statement expresses the contestant's personal views on a particular social issue.