National
Sam Adams himself presented Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge Foundation, with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Technically it was the Sam Adams Alliance during their annual “Sammies” awards, and it was a Sam Adams lookalike (the founding father died quiet sometime ago).
While a statewide ballot initiative & referendum process is critical to putting citizens in charge of their government, the local ballot initiative can be a powerful tool. Citizens in Charge Foundation and Citizens in Charge have recently been involved with local initiative processes in Texas, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Do you believe in good government? Do you want to make a difference in your state?
If the answers to these questions are “yes”, Citizens in Charge Foundation wants you to apply to be a Citizen State Coordinator. We are seeking leaders to organize grassroots activists at the local and state level to protect and defend ballot initiative and referendum (I&R), the process which allows citizens to hold government accountable and reform it when necessary.
Today, Citizens in Charge Foundation released a new video entitiled “A History Lesson from a Four Year Old.”
A four year old takes time to give grown-ups an American history lesson. Watch him explain the Declaration of Independence, the Boston Tea Party and the rights of American citizens. He also explains how the ballot initiative process can help citizens take charge of government!.
A four year old takes time out of his busy schedule to give grown-ups an American history lesson. Watch him explain the Declaration of Independence, the Boston Tea Party and the rights of American citizens.
Even he understands citizens should be in charge! Take some time out of your schedule to find out how ballot initiatives can work for you at www.CitizensInCharge.org
With the troubled economy, we hear a lot about how the private sector is more efficient at providing services than government. Arnold Kling has a great piece at the Library of Economics and Liberty on how people in initiative states have the power to force government to compete with the private sector. Kling suggests that citizens can use ballot initiatives to start charter schools to compete with public schools or allow communities to break off of larger cities and form their own government.
Politics Magazine recently highlighted Citizens In Charge Foundation’s Development Director Jonathan Bydlak.
In their “Shop Talk” section the magazine interviewed four fundraisers to discuss politics and the art of funding organizations.
Bydlak, the former fundraising director of the Ron Paul campaign, discussed the importance of incentivizing activists, leveraging technology and attracting small dollar donors.
Citizens in Charge Foundation has named Linda Curtis, Executive Director of Independent Texans, as the April 2009 recipient of the John Lilburne Award for her commitment to expanding and protecting the rights of Texas citizens to petition their government and voice their opinions.
Did you know that ballot initiative and referendum (I&R) has existed in some form in this country since the 1600s. Citizens of New England placed ordinances and other issues on the agenda for discussion and then a vote during town meetings.
Thomas Jefferson was the first of our founding fathers to propose legislative referendum when he advocated for its addition in the 1775 Virginia state constitution…(Read More)
We want to hear from you, should every vote count? VOTE NOW!
If you are in the Metro DC area please join us this Wednesday, April 1st for a unique happy hour. “Citizens On Tap” is an informal gathering of friends and colleagues seeking mutual understanding over a pint of beer (or wine…?) Join in the fun this Wednesday!
Please RSVP to Trevor@CitizensInCharge.org
About the organizers:
Do you care about good government?
Do you think elected officials are unresponsive?
Do you want to lead the fight where you live?
Join us in leading the charge for stronger initiative and referendum rights in your state. Apply today to become a Citizen State Coordinator.
Recently news has focused on the battle over petitions and the intent of the voter.
Petition and petition circulators are hot button issues in states with the initiative and referendum process (I&R). Each year hundreds of petition gathers (a.k.a. petition circulators) collect thousands of signatures from voters on a large array of issues. And every year thousands are invalidated because of mistakes made by notary, the petition circulator or government official.
OKLAHOMA CITY ””
A pair of Oklahoma lawmakers have received an award from a national voter rights group focused on the initiative and referendum process.
The Virginia-based Citizens in Charge Foundation on Tuesday named state Sen. Randy Brogdon and Rep. Randy Terrill as the March 2009 recipients of the John Lilburne Award….
Denver’s KBDI Channel 12 broadcasted an interview with Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge Foundation, discussing the ballot initiative and referendum (I&R) process. Host Jon Caldera of the Independence Institute asked Jacob questions on reforming the I&R process, its affects on voters and public policy.