Common Cause
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizens' lobby and advocacy organization[1]. The organization was founded in 1970 by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient John W. Gardner with the mission to make political institutions more open and accountable.[2]
Its President and Chief Executive Officer is Robert W. Edgar [3][4], former member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Common Cause is funded by dues and contributions from its nearly 400,000 members and supporters.[5] Common Cause has 36 states offices.[5]
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[edit] Mission and issues
Common Cause’s mission is: “To strengthen public participation and faith in our institutions of self-government; to ensure that government and political processes serve the general interest, rather than special interests; to curb the excessive influence of money on government decisions and elections; to promote fair elections and high ethical standards for government officials; and to protect the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans”.[6]
Common Cause focuses on five broad issues;
- Money in Politics
- Election Reform
- Media and Democracy
- Ethics in Government
- Government Accountability
[edit] Money in Politics
Common Cause’s most well known issue is that of campaign finance reform. In 1974 Common Cause led the effort to pass the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), creating the system of public financing in presidential campaigns we use today.[7]
At the state level, Common Cause has led successful efforts to pass campaign finance reforms, including the first disclosure laws, contribution limits and public financing in states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey, Michigan, Kentucky and Florida.
Common Cause is currently working on legislation for voluntary public financing in Maryland, New Mexico and other states.
[edit] Election Reform
Election Voting Machines: Common Cause advocates a voter-verified paper audit trail for election machines in all states. On January 30, 2008, Common Cause and the Verified Voting Foundation released a report entitled “Voting at Risk 2008” highlighting the problems with electronic voting machines. The report listed 17 states as “High-Risk”.[8][9]
National Popular Vote: Common Cause is in favor of establishing a national popular vote for presidential elections to replace the current electoral college system.
DC Voting Rights: Since 2005 Common Cause has advocated giving the District of Columbia voting rights in Congress.[10]
[edit] Media and Democracy
Common Cause's Media and Democracy department focuses on media ownership, network neutrality and community broadband.
[edit] Ethic in Government
Common Cause was instrumental in passage of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which was enacted on September 14, 2007. The bill strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.[11]
[edit] Government Accountability
In 1972, Common Cause sued President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign, the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP), under the Corrupt Practices Act for failure to report campaign contributions. This high-profile case forced Nixon to expose his secret list of donors and aided in his ultimate downfall two years later.[12]
[edit] Common Cause Magazine
From 1980 through 1996, Common Cause published the self-named Common Cause Magazine.[13] The magazine, once termed "the little magazine that could,"[14] and described by the Washington Post as "a deeply researched, finger-in-your-eye sort of periodical"[15], paralleled the work of Common Cause and focused on issues such as campaign finance and government accountability.
The magazine won more than two dozen journalism awards, including five from Investigative Reporters and Editors, as well as a National Magazine Award for General Excellence.[15]
According to a Washington Post article, Common Cause was considering acquiring the Washington Monthly magazine. [15] However, the National Governing Board voted against the Washington Monthly acquisition at its spring 2008 meeting.
[edit] References
- ^ Jeffrey H. Birnbaum (February 19, 2008). Common Cause, Washington Monthly Explore a Common Future. The Washington Post.
- ^ PBS, John W. Gardner Accessed February 29, 2008
- ^ Associated Press. "NCC's Edgar to Head Secular Advocacy Group" (html), Christian Post, 25 May 2007.
- ^ Shawn Zeller. "Five Questions for Bob Edgar" (html), CQ Weekly on Yahoo! News, 29 May 2007.
- ^ a b Common Cause Website, About Us Accessed February 29, 2008
- ^ Common Cause Mission Accessed February 29, 2008
- ^ "Common Cause's uncommon role" (html), Christian Science Monitor, 5 September 1980. "The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), encompassing public financing of presidential campaigns and oversight of campaign ethics through the Federal Election Commission clearly is the citizen lobby's major accomplishment."
- ^ "Voting at Risk 2008 Report" (html), Common Cause, 30 January 2008.
- ^ "Six States at 'High' Risk for Voting Machine Mishaps on Super Tuesday" (html), 31 January 2008.
- ^ Common Cause Website: DC Voting Rights Accessed February 29, 2008
- ^ Common Cause website: Ethics in Government Accessed February 29, 2008
- ^ Salinger, Lawrence M. (2005). Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime. Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime, 123. ISBN 0761930043.
- ^ Robert Trautman. "Common Cause Magazine." (html). commoncause.org.
- ^ Debra Puchalla (March 1997). "The Little Magazine That Could" (html). American Journalism Review.
- ^ a b c "Jeffrey H. Birnbaum - Common Cause, Washington Monthly Explore a Common Future" (html), Washington Post, 19 February 2008. "It was a deeply researched, finger-in-your-eye sort of periodical that often did investigations about such matters as campaign finance and military contracting."
