The Independent American Party (IAP) is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It began as the Utah Independent American Party. The founders claim to have been inspired by a 1968 speech given by Ezra Taft Benson, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and later president of the LDS Church, entitled "The Proper Role of Government". The party's first platform was based on Benson's beliefs. These 15 principles for the proper role of government, taken from his speech, are held as the IAP's basis for recruiting. The IAP is a minor third party outside the mainstream of American politics, and never attained any elected seat or position in national, state, county or city government.