The Principles of the PI were to acknowledge and promote: the fundamental human rights and freedoms of every person; the right to protection by the state from crime and violence; the rejection of all forms of discrimination; equality before the law; the right of all people to private ownership and the protection thereof; the supremacy of the South African constitution and the rule of law; the separation and independence of the legislature, judiciary and government and a clear division between the ruling party and the state; the right of all citizens to access affordable food, housing, education and medical treatment; a representative and accountable government elected through free, fair and transparent elections; freedom of speech and a free independent media; a free market economy.〔The Progressive Initiative's constitution available online at http://www.progressiveinitiative.org/constitution〕

The objectives of the organisation are to: create and develop new political ideas relating to the governing of the Republic of South Africa; create awareness of, and build support for these new political ideas; promote political awareness and discourse among South Africans; make participation in politics more accessible to all the citizens of the Republic of South Africa.〔The Progressive Initiative's constitution available online at http://www.progressiveinitiative.org/constitution〕