Citizens In Charge Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Citizens in Charge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Virginia
. The Foundation is the only national organization dedicated to promoting the initiative & referendum process.
Citizens in Charge Foundation works with activists, media, educators, opinion leaders and voters to protect the initiative & referendum process where it exists in 24 states and to expand the process to the 26 states where voters currently lack the initiative. Citizens in Charge Foundation works across party lines to educate the public on the benefits of citizen initiative, referendum and recall and also litigates to protect and expand those rights.
Citizens in Charge Foundation empowers grassroots leaders across the country through their Citizen State Coordinator Program. These volunteer coordinators make a difference by engaging in activities at the local and state level to protect and defend the ballot initiative process. Our team of Citizen State Coordinators mobilizes “boots-on-the-ground” activists, meets and works with elected officials and opinion leaders, and hosts educational events.
The process of initiative and referendum is critical if we are to shift power back into the hands of ordinary citizens. Citizens in Charge Foundation and Citizens in Charge are uniquely positioned as the only national organizations committed to defending the ballot initiative process in states where it exists and expanding it to those states where citizens currently lack the process.
CICF is non-partisan and does not support any initiatives, referenda, or candidates for office.
is the founder and president of Citizens in Charge Foundation.
Other prominent board members include Theresa Amato, former campaign manager for Ralph Nader
in 2000 and 2004; Grover Norquist
, president of Americans for Tax Reform
; William Redpath, chairman of the Libertarian Party
; and Rob Richie
, executive director of FairVote
.
that started in 2008 to familiarize voters in the 24 states with I&R about threats to the citizen initiative process.,,
States where state legislators are pushing legislation to make it considerably more difficult for initiatives to qualify for the ballot include Arizona
, California
, Colorado
, Florida
, Missouri
, Maine
, Maryland
, Nebraska
, and Washington.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The Foundation is the only national organization dedicated to promoting the initiative & referendum process.
Citizens in Charge Foundation works with activists, media, educators, opinion leaders and voters to protect the initiative & referendum process where it exists in 24 states and to expand the process to the 26 states where voters currently lack the initiative. Citizens in Charge Foundation works across party lines to educate the public on the benefits of citizen initiative, referendum and recall and also litigates to protect and expand those rights.
Citizens in Charge Foundation empowers grassroots leaders across the country through their Citizen State Coordinator Program. These volunteer coordinators make a difference by engaging in activities at the local and state level to protect and defend the ballot initiative process. Our team of Citizen State Coordinators mobilizes “boots-on-the-ground” activists, meets and works with elected officials and opinion leaders, and hosts educational events.
The process of initiative and referendum is critical if we are to shift power back into the hands of ordinary citizens. Citizens in Charge Foundation and Citizens in Charge are uniquely positioned as the only national organizations committed to defending the ballot initiative process in states where it exists and expanding it to those states where citizens currently lack the process.
CICF is non-partisan and does not support any initiatives, referenda, or candidates for office.
Key personnel
Paul JacobPaul Jacob
Paul Jacob is an activist, organizer, and advocate for legislative term limits, initiative & veto referendum rights, and limited government in the United States. He writes a weekly column for Townhall.com and his short radio commentary feature, "Common Sense," is syndicated by the Citizens In...
is the founder and president of Citizens in Charge Foundation.
Other prominent board members include Theresa Amato, former campaign manager for Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
in 2000 and 2004; Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist
Grover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
, president of Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform is an advocacy group and taxpayer group whose stated goal is "a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax...
; William Redpath, chairman of the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
; and Rob Richie
Rob Richie
Robert Richie is the executive director of the FairVote, a non-profit organization that researches and advocates election reforms that increase voter turnout, accountable governance and fair representation, such as instant runoff voting and the National Popular Vote plan...
, executive director of FairVote
FairVote
FairVote is a U.S. non-profit organization based in Takoma Park, Maryland, whose mission is to achieve universal access to participation, a full spectrum of meaningful ballot choices and majority rule with fair representation for all...
.
Save the Initiative Tour
The Save The Initiative Tour is a public relations effort led by Paul JacobPaul Jacob
Paul Jacob is an activist, organizer, and advocate for legislative term limits, initiative & veto referendum rights, and limited government in the United States. He writes a weekly column for Townhall.com and his short radio commentary feature, "Common Sense," is syndicated by the Citizens In...
that started in 2008 to familiarize voters in the 24 states with I&R about threats to the citizen initiative process.,,
States where state legislators are pushing legislation to make it considerably more difficult for initiatives to qualify for the ballot include Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, and Washington.
Litigation work
Citizens in Charge Foundation litigates nationally in defense of initiative rights.Past litigation
- Funded the successful case, Citizens for Tax Reform v. Deters, whereby Ohio’s ban on paying petition circulators by the signature was struck down in 2008. The state’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.
- Filed Amicus curiae brief in Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v. Granholm urging the court to allow the Michigan Civil Rights initiative Committee to intervene in the challenge to their successful initiative. The state officials handling the suit publicly opposed the initiative.
- Amicus curiae brief was filed in LetOhioVote.org v. Brunner, a case calling for Ohio to abide by its constitutional requirement that new gambling allowances must be put to a statewide vote.
- Funded research and negotiations with Nebraska’s Secretary of State in, Mann v. Gale, wherein the Secretary of State agreed to standardize procedures used to verify signatures.
Ongoing litigation
- Citizens in Charge, et al v. Miller challenges Nevada’s narrow interpretation of the single-subject requirement for initiatives. This case was filed in federal district court in Nevada.
- Citizens in Charge v. Brunner challenges Ohio’s arbitrary referendum title setting process. The case is pending in federal district court.
- Working with the ACLU to challenge Nebraska’s residency requirement, county-based distribution requirement, and requirement that petitions indicate whether circulators are paid or volunteer. A complaint is being drafted and will be filed by year’s end.