Common Cause facts for kids
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| Founded | 1970 |
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| Founder | John W. Gardner |
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Area served
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United States |
| Method | Advocacy |
Common Cause is a group that works to make sure the government is fair and honest. Think of them as a "watchdog" group. They keep an eye on how things are run in Washington, D.C. and in many states.
The group was started in 1970 by John W. Gardner. He was a government official who wanted to make things better. When Common Cause first began, they worked to end the Vietnam War. They also helped lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
Common Cause is known for wanting to improve how government works. They aim to make sure everyone has equal rights and a chance to be heard. Their main goal is "holding power accountable." This means they want leaders to be responsible for their actions.
Contents
What Common Cause Works On
Common Cause focuses on several important areas. These include how money affects politics, fair voting and elections, and honest government behavior. They also look at how the economy works for everyone and the role of media.
Protecting the Constitution
Common Cause is careful about big changes to the United States Constitution. They worry that some ideas for changing the Constitution could lead to problems. They believe that a special meeting to change the Constitution, called an Article V convention, might be risky.
They are concerned that such a meeting could make changes that limit people's rights. Or it could even change our whole system of government. Common Cause thinks it's better to be safe than sorry.
Making Government Honest
Common Cause works hard to make sure government officials are honest. They helped pass laws like the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. This law made officials share their financial information. It also made it harder for people to move directly from government jobs to jobs where they could use their old connections unfairly. This is sometimes called the "revolving door."
Their efforts have led to important changes. For example, some powerful leaders in Congress had to step down because of ethics issues. Common Cause also spoke out during the 2016 presidential election. They raised concerns about how money from certain foundations or businesses might affect leaders. They asked for more openness about finances from candidates.
Fairness in Elections
Common Cause works to make elections fair for everyone.
Money in Politics
They believe that too much money from special groups can influence elections. In 1972, they took legal action against a presidential campaign. This helped make sure that campaign donations were made public. They also supported laws like the Federal Election Campaign Act. This law helped fund presidential campaigns publicly. It also created rules for campaign ethics.
Common Cause wants to see elections funded by the public. This means less influence from big donations. They have helped make this happen in many cities and states.
Fair Voting Maps
The group tries to stop gerrymandering. This is when political districts are drawn unfairly to give one party an advantage. Common Cause has filed lawsuits to challenge these unfair maps. They want a nonpartisan way to draw districts. This means the process would be fair to all political parties.
Voting Machines
Common Cause believes that all voting machines should have a paper record. This way, voters can check their choices. It helps make sure votes are counted correctly. They have reported problems with electronic voting machines.
National Popular Vote
Common Cause supports a national popular vote for president. This means the person who gets the most votes across the country wins. Currently, the Electoral College system is used. Common Cause believes a national popular vote would be more democratic.
Who Leads Common Cause
Common Cause has had many important leaders over the years.
Presidents of Common Cause
- Jack Conway (1971–1975)
- David Cohen (1975–1981)
- Fred Wertheimer (1981–1995)
- Ann McBride (1995–1999)
- Scott Harshbarger (1999–2002)
- Chellie Pingree (2003–2007)
- Robert W. (Bob) Edgar (2007–2013)
- Miles S. Rapoport (2014–2016)
- Karen Hobert Flynn (2016–2023)
Chairs of the Board
- John W. Gardner (1970–1978) - The founder of the group.
- Archibald Cox (1980–1992) - A famous lawyer from the Watergate investigation.
- Robert Reich (2013–2018) - A former Secretary of Labor.
How Common Cause is Funded
Common Cause gets about $18 million each year. This money helps them do their work. They are set up as two types of non-profit organizations. One is for advocacy, and the other is for education.
See also
- Rucho v. Common Cause, a 2019 important case involving Common Cause at the US Supreme Court.
