CANDIDATE CAPACITY & INTEGRITY ACT (CCIA)
Safeguarding Public Trust Through Responsible Leadership
Purpose:
To ensure that individuals running for high public office possess the mental fitness, emotional regulation, and cognitive clarity necessary to fulfill their responsibilities. This policy would mirror the mental health evaluation standards already in place for law enforcement, without encroaching on civil liberties or politicizing healthcare.
Why It Matters:
Public office carries immense responsibility.
Decisions made by elected officials impact lives, livelihoods, national security, and public health. Mental instability in leadership has led to erratic behavior, broken trust, and, in some cases, real harm.Voters deserve confidence in their leaders’ fitness to serve.
As we trust pilots, police, and military personnel to be of sound mind, we should apply similar standards to elected officials who wield power over laws, budgets, and civil rights.**This is not about disqualifying people—it's about transparency and accountability.
The goal is not to gatekeep politics or stigmatize mental health, but to ensure baseline fitness to lead during times of crisis, negotiation, and decision-making.
Key Provisions:
Pre-Qualification Mental Health Evaluation:
All candidates running for federal office (U.S. House, Senate, President) would be required to complete a standardized confidential mental fitness screening prior to ballot qualification.
Evaluations would be conducted by an independent, licensed psychologist or psychiatrist certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The exam would assess: cognitive function, emotional stability, stress response, and risk of impairments that could compromise job performance.
Nonpartisan Oversight Board:
An independent board comprised of medical professionals, constitutional scholars, and ethics advisors will oversee implementation and ensure no abuse of power or political weaponization.
Confidentiality & Reporting:
Individual results remain private unless a finding indicates severe impairment, in which case a public summary stating “Medically Unfit for Office at Time of Evaluation” may be disclosed, with appeal rights.
Annual Follow-Up for Elected Officials:
Once in office, representatives must complete biennial mental wellness checks, with the option for voluntary participation in stress management and resilience programs.
Protection Against Abuse:
No specific diagnosis disqualifies a candidate.
The Act explicitly prohibits evaluations from being used for partisan attacks or to stigmatize mental illness.
All findings would be governed by HIPAA standards.
Benefits:
✅ Restores public confidence in the character and readiness of those seeking power
✅ Promotes responsibility and wellness in leadership
✅ Creates parity with other public safety professions (police, military, aviation)
✅ Offers a proactive tool to reduce political dysfunction and instability
