Citizens in Charge Foundation
{{short description|American non-profit advocacy organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Citizens in Charge Foundation
| logo = CICFlogo.jpg
| alt = Logo of Citizens in Charge Foundation
| location = Woodbridge, Virginia
| region = United States
| revenue = $1,277,393"[https://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2016/134/070/2016-134070270-0eaad57c-9.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". Citizens in Charge Foundation. Guidestar. December 31, 2016.
| revenue_year = 2016
| expenses_year = 2016
| employees_year = 2016
| purpose = To protect and expand the initiative and referendum rights of every American without regard to partisanship or politics.
| tax_id = 13-4070270
| status = 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Paul Jacob"[https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123025574056134661 Still Oklahoma's Most Wanted]". The Wall Street Journal. December 26, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
| website = {{url|www.citizensinchargefoundation.org}}
}}
The Citizens in Charge Foundation (CCF) is a nonprofit, non-partisan{{cite news|last1=Hayden|first1=Erik|title=Ballot Initiatives: Making The Grade?|url=https://psmag.com/social-justice/ballot-initiatives-making-the-grade-10161|accessdate=August 11, 2014|agency=Pacific Standard|date=February 27, 2010 }} organization that advocates in favor of direct democracy.{{cite news|last1=Greenblatt|first1=Alan|title=Beer, Candy And Pot Among Issues Before Voters|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130185883|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=NPR|date=2010-09-28}}{{cite news|last1=Luning|first1=Ernest|title=Initiative process comes under siege in Colorado|url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/992861-initiative-process-comes-under-siege-colorado|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=Colorado Statesman|date=2011-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213406/http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/992861-initiative-process-comes-under-siege-colorado|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Oklahoma AG indicts national term limits leader; Paul Jacob vows to fight|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/oklahoma-ag-indicts-national-term-limits-leader-paul-jacob-vows-to-fight/article/10915|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=Washington Examiner|date=2 October 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Snyder|first1=Sarah|title=Concerned Citizens Council Votes to File Lawsuit Against Big Spring|url=http://www.newswest9.com/story/11805863/concerned-citizens-council-votes-to-file-lawsuit-against-big-spring|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=NewsWest9}} It was founded by libertarian activist Paul Jacob who has served as its president since its founding in 2001.
Activities
=Litigation=
- Filed an amicus brief written by Todd Graves in the successful case, Citizens for Tax Reform v. Deters, whereby Ohio's ban on paying petition circulators per signature was struck down in 2008. The state's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
- 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
- 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
- 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
- Citizens in Charge, et al v. Miller challenged Nevada's narrow interpretation of the single-subject requirement for initiatives. This case was filed in federal district court in Nevada.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
- Citizens in Charge v. Brunner challenged Ohio's arbitrary referendum title setting process. The case is pending in federal district court.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
- CCF was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union in Citizens in Charge Foundation, Inc. v. Gale, which challenged Nebraska's residency requirement, county-based distribution requirement, and requirement that petitions indicate whether circulators are paid or volunteer.{{cite news|title=ACLU Challenges Nebraska Petition Laws That Keep Independent Candidates Off Ballot|url=https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/aclu-challenges-nebraska-petition-laws-keep-independent-candidates-ballot|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=American Civil Liberties Union|date=2009-12-16}}
=Reports=
In 2010, CICF released a state-by-state report card that "assesses the restrictions and accessibility each state provides for citizen-led ballot initiatives and referendums."{{cite news|last1=Reilly|first1=Sean|title=Alabama, Mississippi citizens shut out of government, says report|url=http://blog.al.com/live/2010/02/alabama_mississippi_citizens_s.html|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=AL.com|date=8 February 2010}}
In the same year, Citizens in Charge Foundation and Citizens in Charge jointly commissioned Pulse Opinion Research to conduct a poll to determine public support for the initiative and referendum process.
Citizens in Charge
Citizens in Charge is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization started by Paul Jacob in 2001 that works directly with public officials and voters to protect and spread ballot initiative rights. Citizens in Charge and Citizens in Charge Foundation are separate organizations. Paul Jacob also serves as president of Citizens In Charge.{{cite news|last1=Cook|first1=Morgan|title=Donations in Irvine races may have broken law|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/council-595090-fleischman-citizens.html|accessdate=11 August 2014|publisher=Orange County Register|date=2013-12-27}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.citizensinchargefoundation.org/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150209032930/http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/134070270/popup/1 Organizational Profile] – National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
Category:Political organizations based in the United States
Category:Charities based in Virginia
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Woodbridge, Virginia