Citizens for Self-Governance

Citizens for Self-Governance
Location
Region served
 United States
President
 Mark Meckler
Website selfgovern.com

Citizens for Self-Governance (CSG) is an American political organization that advocates for the restoration of self-governance across the United States. CSG is leading a nationwide initiative to a call a convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.[1]

Leadership

Mark Meckler serves as President of CSG.[2] Meckler was previously co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots before resigning from that group.[3]

Activities

Lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service

CSG filed a class action lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, alleging violations under the Privacy Act as well as violations of constitutional rights guaranteeing free expression and equal protection under the law.[4] The lawsuit stemmed from IRS targeting of conservative groups for more scrutiny as they applied for tax-exempt status.[5][6][7] In April 2015, a federal judge ordered the IRS to turn over the list of 298 groups it had targeted for intrusive scrutiny.[8]

Convention of the States

CSG has called for a convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.[9][10][11][12][13][14] According to Meckler:

By calling a convention of states, we can stop the federal spending and debt spree, the power grabs of the federal courts, and other misuses of federal power. The current situation is precisely what the Founders feared, and they gave us a solution we have a duty to use.
—Mark Meckler in Slate Magazine[10]

Mark Levin has supported CSG's efforts to a call a second constitutional convention.[15] CSG opened numerous chapters across the nation to urge state legislators to summon a national convention; for example, in Virginia, the group sponsored the founder of Patrick Henry College, Michael Farris, to launch a Convention of States Project which is a forum for delegates appointed by state governments to propose amendments to the constitution.[16]

In December 2013, nearly 100 legislators from 32 states met at Mount Vernon to talk about how to call a convention of states. According to Slate, "The meeting lasted four hours, ending when legislators agreed to meet again in the spring of 2014. That’s the most progress anyone’s made in decades toward a states-first constitutional amendment campaign." CSG provided the legislators with briefing books that laid out a plan to call a convention of states.[17]

In March 2014, Georgia became the first state to pass CSG's convention of states application.[18][19][20][21] Alaska and Florida followed suit in April 2014.[22]

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck have all endorsed a convention of states.[10][23][24]

In July 2014, CSG announced plans to have resolutions before at least 24 state legislatures in 2015.[25]

In September 2014, CSG announced that a Legal Board of Reference had signed a "Jefferson Statement" endorsing the Convention of States initiative. The Legal Board of Reference includes Randy Barnett, Charles J. Cooper, John C. Eastman, Michael Farris, Robert P. George, C. Boyden Gray, Mark Levin, Andrew C. McCarthy, and Mark Meckler.[26][27]

In 2015, the group is backing bills in 26 states that would call for a convention. Democrats and Republicans have supported bills backed by the organization.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sherfinski, David (April 7, 2015). "Supporters of convention to amend Constitution aim to defeat state legislators standing in way". Washington Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Richman, Josh. "Political Blotter: NorCal Tea Party sues IRS". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lee, MJ (February 24, 2012). "Mark Meckler, Tea party co-founder quits". Politico. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ Mark Meckler, June 11, 2013, Rasmussen Reports, Citizens Stand and Fight the IRS: A Commentary By Mark Meckler, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014
  5. ↑ Bohn, Kevin (May 20, 2013). "8 months ago First lawsuit filed against IRS". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ Raymond, Nate (May 20, 2014). "Tea Party group sues IRS over inappropriate targeting". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ Katrina Trinko May 21, 2013, National Review, Tea-Party Groups Sue IRS Seeking Damages, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...NorCal Tea Party Patriots announced yesterday that it would be filing a suit against the IRS, in coordination with Citizens for Self-Governance..."
  8. ↑ Dinan, Stephen (April 2, 2015). "Judge orders IRS to release list of tea party groups targeted for scrutiny". Washington Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Ritz, Erica (December 18, 2013). "Could a Convention of States Occur as Early as 2016?". The Blaze. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Roller, Emma (December 4, 2013). "Conservatives' Improbable New 'Convention of States' Project". Slate. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ Benko, Ralph (August 19, 2013). "Mark Levin's Game Changer: Using The Constitution To Arrest Federal Drift". Forbes. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ Niraj Chokshi December 5, 2013, Washington Post, Next up for ALEC: Taming the federal government, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...a panel focused on a plan to call a convention of states under the Constitution to limit the powers of the federal government, developed by a group called Citizens for Self-Governance. CSG is led by Meckler...."
  13. ↑ September, 16th 2013, The Okie Report (Oklahoma political news blog), OKIE Report: Coburn Backing ‘Convention Of States’, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...We wanted to look further into the Convention of States, and the group leading this charge, Citizens for Self Governance..."
  14. ↑ JAMES ZUMWALT, UPI Outside View Commentator, Jan. 14, 2014, United Press International, Force feed fed constitutional compliance, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...The Citizens for Self-Governance is educating Americans on the Article V -- Convention of States -- option and how it can brake the runaway train. It seeks to arm Americans not with guns, but re-arm them with the legal authority..."
  15. ↑ Weigel, David; Roller, Emma (December 10, 2013). "Give Me Amendments or Give Me Death". Slate. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  16. ↑ Markus Schmidt, January 20, 2014, Richmond Times-Dispatch, The News Virginian, Effort seeks to reset course for America, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...Last year, Farris launched the Convention of States Project, sponsored by a group called Citizens for Self-Governance. In the past three months, the project has opened numerous chapters nationwide that lobby legislators...."
  17. ↑ Weigel, David; Roller, Emma (December 10, 2013). "Inside the Secret Conservative Campaign to Rewrite the Constitution". Slate. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  18. ↑ Lowrey, Jason (March 12, 2014). "Georgia Legislature calls for convention under Article V Read more: The Daily Tribune News - Georgia Legislature calls for convention under Article V". Daily Tribune News. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  19. ↑ Jones, Winston (2014-02-21). "House passes convention of states resolution". Times-Georgian. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  20. ↑ Ritz, Erica (February 5, 2014). "Another Big Name Just Officially Announced Their Support for a Convention of States". The Blaze. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  21. ↑ Weigel, Dave (February 6, 2014). "Georgia, Tom Coburn Call for Constitutional Convention". Slate. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  22. ↑ Meckler, Mark. "Florida and Alaska Officially Pass Convention of States Application". Citizens for Self-Governance. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  23. ↑ Burk, Eric. "Huckabee and Others Endorse COS Project". Convention of States. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  24. ↑ Wolverton, Joe (2013-08-22). "Levin, Limbaugh, Hannity Calling for Con-Con". The New American. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  25. ↑ "Push continues for convention of states". Miami Herald (Associated Press). 2014-07-09. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  26. ↑ "The Convention of States Project Announces Formation of Prestigious "Legal Board of Reference" in Support of Article V". CNBC. PR Newswire. 2014-09-29. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  27. ↑ Lifson, Thomas (October 1, 2014). "Article V convention moves a step closer". American Thinker. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  28. ↑ Cooper, Brad (March 19, 2015). "States urged to call for convention to amend U.S. Constitution". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 13 April 2015.

External links