Leadership Matrix

The Leadership Project for America’s Leadership Matrix spells out ten characteristics of what makes a great leader, revealing relative strengths as well as critical shortcomings in character, effectiveness and a commitment to limited constitutional government. The LPA PAC then takes the Presidential Leadership Matrix and rates leaders on both general and specific issues, giving a specific score for each category, which is compiled into a total overall score:

Commitment to Limited Constitutional Government

Free Market Economic Principles (0-10)

Does the leader champion opportunity and fairness for all in the marketplace?
Has the leader demonstrated a clear understanding of free market policies?
Does the formal record show that the leader supports lower taxes, free trade, less government regulation, privatization and balanced budgets?
Has the leader compromised free market principles when pressured by business or special interests?
Has the leader publicly expressed opposition to corporate welfare and cronyism?
Does the leader’s life embody “earned success” over entitlements?

A Strong National Security (0-10)

Has the leader demonstrated support for the U.S. military?
Is the leader committed to fighting terrorism and upholding national sovereignty?
Does the leader understand and advance the national interest or does the leader speak more often about isolation and “disengagement”?

American Exceptionalism (0-10)

Does the leader demonstrate a clear understanding of the rule of law and the Bill of Rights and embrace the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution?
Has the leader supported/defended/appointed judges who protect the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution?
Does the leader endorse family as the fundamental unit of a free society?
Has the leader demonstrated support for religious freedom?
Does the leader support a strong education system?
Does the leader support intelligent immigration reform?
Has the leader endorsed helping the vulnerable and protecting a trustworthy safety net for the poor and needy?

Character

Consistency (0-10)

Does the leader demonstrate a consistent principled approach toward governing?
Has the leader kept campaign promises?
Has the leader remained principled even in necessary compromise?

Ethics (0-10)

Is the leader’s integrity in question?
Has the leader avoided cronyism?
Has the leader instituted rules for the campaign team/staff/organization to minimize conflicts of interest?

Moral Compass (0-10)

Is it well known that the leader expresses and lives by a moral code?
Does the leader express legal and policy ideas from a basis of first principles?

Effectiveness

Accomplishments and Bold Ideas (0-10)

Does the leader have actual political experience?
Has the leader effectively promoted and/or defended limited government?
Has the leader effectively expressed and/or implemented innovative ideas in the cause of freedom?
Does the leader quickly understand and easily embrace principled ideas?

Coalition Building, Political Skills and Network (0-10)

Has the leader demonstrated prudence in decision making?
Does outreach and working with diverse political interests come easy for the leader?
How has the leader acted in difficult political circumstances?
Who are the leader’s friends, associates, staff and closest advisers?

Effective Communication (0-10)

Does the leader share a clear vision of a free society?
Does the leader emanate empathy?
Does the leader see “people as people” or does the leader tend to objectify people?
Can the leader express complex ideas simply?
Does the leader excite and inspire citizens?

Viability

Fundraising (0-5)

Where does the leader stand in fundraising?

Central weakness/ability to overcome (0-5)

What is the leader’s central weakness as a candidate?
Has the leader demonstrated ability and interest in overcoming this central weakness?