About Us – CitizensinCharge.org

Citizens in Charge (CIC) and Citizens in Charge Foundation (CICF) work to protect, defend and expand the initiative and referendum rights, without regard to partisanship or politics. CIC & CIC are dedicated to the belief that citizens should be in charge of their government. One of the best tools that citizens have for enacting change is Direct Democracy - the initiative and referendum process. Our organization is made up of activists, lawmakers, financial supporters, opinion leaders, and most importantly — citizens — who come together to protect and defend this process where it exists, and extend it to where it does not. But no matter our background, we all recognize that additional checks on government are to be encouraged.

Our organizations work with activists, legislators, media, opinion leaders and voters to protect the tools of self determination where they exists, and to expand the tools of self governance. We also work to educate the general public on the benefits of citizen initiative, referendum and recall and litigate through the court system to protect and expand those rights.

Empowering Citizens, Protecting Democracy

We believe that citizen control of government is essential for peace, prosperity and freedom, and that Direct Democracy is a necessary check on the power of government. CIC is uniquely positioned to defend Direct Democracy where it exists and expand it where citizens currently lack these critical tools to self-determination.

Ballots Over Battles

President of CICF Paul Jacob and Board Member M. Dane Waters felt strongly that the mission of CIC should be expanded internationally and created the Stop Fighting Start Voting campaign as an international educational campaign that promotes the use of Direct Democracy as a peaceful means to resolving conflict.

Having this electoral ability [the initiative and referendum process] is a critical 'safety valve' for effective citizenship.

Edwin Meese, III Former U.S. Attorney General under Ronald Reagan

We are cleaning house and in order to clean house the one thing we need is a good broom. Initiative and referendum are good brooms.

President Woodrow Wilson

"One big difference between initiatives and elected representatives is that initiatives do not change their minds once you vote them in.

Grover Norquist President of Americans for Tax Reform

Initiative and Referendum is the citizen activist's 'ace in the hole'

Ralph Nader

"The will of the majority, the natural law of every society, is the only sure guardian of the rights of man. Perhaps even this may sometimes err; but its errors are honest, solitary and short-lived."

Thomas Jefferson

"Those states that have the initiative and referendum process have tended to have less scandals and more honest state government than those states without that process."

Paul Weyrich President of the Free Congress Foundation

If an American is to amount to anything he must rely upon himself, & not upon the State; he must take pride in his own work, instead of sitting idle to envy the luck of others. He must face life with resolute courage, win victory if he can & accept defeat if he must, without seeking to place on his fellow man a responsibility which is not theirs.

President Theodore Roosevelt

The PIRGs have been a leading practitioner of the citizens initiative process to pass environmental, consumer protection, and good government measures. We will continue to use the process and will work to promote and defend the process itself.

Who We Are

Empowering Citizens, Protecting Democracy

Ballots Over Battles

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