Common Cause Kansas records

Restrictions: None

Abstract: The Kansas Common Cause records contain a variety of administrative documents pertaining to the organization's political activity. The records are organized by topic or record type and include correspondence, minutes, memoranda, notes, budget documents, advocacy materials, and a scrapbook documenting the organization's 20th anniversary. Topics include board meeting minutes; bylaws; contributions; business and finance; budgets; newspaper clippings; Kansas Voters Guide; scandals; voter registration; lobbying regulations; Task Force on Ethnics Reform; public funding in Kansas; political action committee (PAC) study; House & Senate campaign finance studies; campaign finance study; Pro-Democracy Campaign (Common Cause/Kansas) publication; events; fund raising; membership; newsletters; and a case file on Lynn Hellebust, John R. Craft Kansas Natural Resource Council, and Common Cause of Kansas vs Sam Brownback, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, et al.

Administrative History: Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest. The organization's mission is to strengthen public participation and faith in institutions of self-government; to ensure that government and political processes serve the general interest, rather than special interests; to curb the excessive influence of money on government decisions and elections; to promote fair elections and high ethical standards for government officials; and to protect the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans. The organization focuses on advancing campaign reforms that make people and ideas more important than money; make certain that government is open, ethical and accountable; removing barriers to voting and ensuring that U.S. voting systems are accurate and accessible; increasing the diversity of voices and ownership in media; upholding the rule of law by opposing any attempts to undermine the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and to increase participation in the political process.

[Common Cause. "About Us." http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4764181 (accessed November 23, 2009).]

Restrictions: None