Citizens for Self-Governance

Citizens for Self-Governance
Location
Region served
United States
President
 Mark Meckler
Website selfgovern.com

Citizens for Self-Governance (CSG) is an American political organization that advocates for the restoration of self-governance across the United States. CSG is leading a nationwide initiative to a call a convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.[1] The organization has also funded a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding that agency's politically-oriented targeting of organizations.

Leadership

Mark Meckler serves as President of CSG.[2] Meckler was previously co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots before resigning from that group.[3]

Activities

Lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service

Federal appeals court ruling in IRS targeting case

Among the most serious allegations a federal court can address are that an executive agency has targeted citizens for mistreatment based on their political views. No citizen — Republican or Democrat, socialist or libertarian — should be targeted or even have to fear being targeted on those grounds. The allegations are substantial: most are drawn from findings made by the Treasury Department's own Inspector General for Tax Administration. Those findings include that the IRS used political criteria to round up applications for tax-exempt status filed by so called tea-party groups; that the IRS often took four times as long to process tea-party applications as other applications; and that the IRS served tea-party applicants with crushing demands for what the Inspector General called 'unnecessary information.'[4]

In May 2013, CSG filed a class action lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, alleging violations under the Privacy Act as well as violations of constitutional rights guaranteeing free expression and equal protection under the law.[5] The lawsuit stemmed from IRS targeting of conservative groups for more scrutiny as they applied for tax-exempt status.[6][7][8] In April 2015, a federal judge ordered the IRS to turn over the list of 298 groups it had targeted for intrusive scrutiny.[9] The IRS failed to turn over the list, filing a petition for a writ of mandamus from the appellate court so that it would not have to disclose information on groups the agency had targeted.[10] In March 2016, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit made a unanimous ruling rebuking the IRS and giving the agency two weeks to produce the names of organizations it targeted based on their political leanings. The court is demanding the list so that those who have been targeted by the IRS based on their political views may file a class action lawsuit and seek damages from the IRS.[11]

Convention of the States

CSG has called for a convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.[12][13][14][15][16][17] According to Meckler:

By calling a convention of states, we can stop the federal spending and debt spree, the power grabs of the federal courts, and other misuses of federal power. The current situation is precisely what the Founders feared, and they gave us a solution we have a duty to use.[13]

CSG has opened numerous chapters across the nation to urge state legislators to summon a national convention; for example, in Virginia, the group sponsored the founder of Patrick Henry College, Michael Farris, to launch a Convention of States Project which is a forum for delegates appointed by state governments to propose amendments to the constitution.[18]

In December 2013, nearly 100 legislators from 32 states met at Mount Vernon to talk about how to call a convention of states. According to Slate, "The meeting lasted four hours, ending when legislators agreed to meet again in the spring of 2014. That’s the most progress anyone’s made in decades toward a states-first constitutional amendment campaign." CSG provided the legislators with briefing books that laid out a plan to call a convention of states.[19]

In March 2014, Georgia became the first state to pass CSG's convention of states application.[20] By 2016, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Louisiana had followed suit, bringing the total number of states to pass CSG's convention of states application to eight.[21]

In July 2014, CSG announced plans to have resolutions before at least 24 state legislatures in 2015.[22] In 2015, the group backed bills in 26 states that would call for a convention. Democrats and Republicans have supported bills backed by the organization.[23]

In September 2016, CSG held a simulated convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution in Williamsburg, Virginia.[24] An assembly of 137 delegates representing every state gathered to conduct a simulated convention.[25] The simulated convention passed amendments relating to six topics, including requiring the states to approve any increase in the national debt, imposing term limits, limiting the Commerce Clause to its original meaning, limiting the power of federal regulations, requiring a supermajority to impose federal taxes and repealing the 16th Amendment, and giving the states the power to abrogate any federal law, regulation, or executive order.[26]

Supporters

Mark Levin has supported CSG's efforts to a call a second constitutional convention.[27] Former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn has endorsed the Convention of States Project and serves as a senior advisor to CSG's efforts.[28][29]

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, John Kasich, Bobby Jindal, Allen West, and Greg Abbott have all endorsed a convention of states.[30][13][31][32][33]

In September 2014, CSG announced that a Legal Board of Reference had signed a "Jefferson Statement" endorsing the Convention of States initiative. The Legal Board of Reference includes Randy Barnett, Charles J. Cooper, John C. Eastman, Michael Farris, Robert P. George, C. Boyden Gray, Mark Levin, Andrew C. McCarthy, and Mark Meckler.[34][35]

In late 2015, Marco Rubio endorsed CSG's call for a constitutional convention.[27][36]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sherfinski, David (April 7, 2015). "Supporters of convention to amend Constitution aim to defeat state legislators standing in way". Washington Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Richman, Josh. "Political Blotter: NorCal Tea Party sues IRS". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lee, MJ (February 24, 2012). "Mark Meckler, Tea party co-founder quits". Politico. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ NorCal Tea Party Patriots v. Internal Revenue Service (United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 2016). Text
  5. ↑ Mark Meckler, June 11, 2013, Rasmussen Reports, Citizens Stand and Fight the IRS: A Commentary By Mark Meckler, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014
  6. ↑ Bohn, Kevin (May 20, 2013). "8 months ago First lawsuit filed against IRS". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ Raymond, Nate (May 20, 2014). "Tea Party group sues IRS over inappropriate targeting". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  8. ↑ Katrina Trinko May 21, 2013, National Review, Tea-Party Groups Sue IRS Seeking Damages, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...NorCal Tea Party Patriots announced yesterday that it would be filing a suit against the IRS, in coordination with Citizens for Self-Governance..."
  9. ↑ Dinan, Stephen (April 2, 2015). "Judge orders IRS to release list of tea party groups targeted for scrutiny". Washington Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Smith, Samuel (March 25, 2016). "IRS Must Turn Over List of Targeted Tea Party Groups to Allow for Class Action Lawsuit, Appeals Court Rules". Christian Post. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Chakraborty, Barnini (March 24, 2016). "Federal appeals court slams IRS in Tea Party case, demands documents". Fox News. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  12. ↑ Ritz, Erica (December 18, 2013). "Could a Convention of States Occur as Early as 2016?". The Blaze. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 Roller, Emma (December 4, 2013). "Conservatives' Improbable New 'Convention of States' Project". Slate. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  14. ↑ Benko, Ralph (August 19, 2013). "Mark Levin's Game Changer: Using The Constitution To Arrest Federal Drift". Forbes. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  15. ↑ Niraj Chokshi December 5, 2013, Washington Post, Next up for ALEC: Taming the federal government, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...a panel focused on a plan to call a convention of states under the Constitution to limit the powers of the federal government, developed by a group called Citizens for Self-Governance. CSG is led by Meckler...."
  16. ↑ September, 16th 2013, The Okie Report (Oklahoma political news blog), OKIE Report: Coburn Backing ‘Convention Of States’, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...We wanted to look further into the Convention of States, and the group leading this charge, Citizens for Self Governance..."
  17. ↑ JAMES ZUMWALT, UPI Outside View Commentator, Jan. 14, 2014, United Press International, Force feed fed constitutional compliance, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...The Citizens for Self-Governance is educating Americans on the Article V -- Convention of States -- option and how it can brake the runaway train. It seeks to arm Americans not with guns, but re-arm them with the legal authority..."
  18. ↑ Markus Schmidt, January 20, 2014, Richmond Times-Dispatch, The News Virginian, Effort seeks to reset course for America, Accessed Jan. 21, 2014, "...Last year, Farris launched the Convention of States Project, sponsored by a group called Citizens for Self-Governance. In the past three months, the project has opened numerous chapters nationwide that lobby legislators...."
  19. ↑ Weigel, David; Roller, Emma (December 10, 2013). "Inside the Secret Conservative Campaign to Rewrite the Constitution". Slate. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  20. ↑ Lowrey, Jason (March 12, 2014). "Georgia Legislature calls for convention under Article V Read more: The Daily Tribune News - Georgia Legislature calls for convention under Article V". Daily Tribune News. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  21. ↑ Serrie, Jonathan (March 29, 2016). "States' rights advocates eye convention to bypass Congress, amend Constitution". Fox News. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  22. ↑ "Push continues for convention of states". Miami Herald. Associated Press. 2014-07-09. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  23. ↑ Cooper, Brad (March 19, 2015). "States urged to call for convention to amend U.S. Constitution". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  24. ↑ Harris, Andrew (September 23, 2016). "Tea Party co-founder holds convention in Williamsburg for amending Constitution". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  25. ↑ Tinsley, Anna (September 30, 2016). "Is Texas ready to join a movement to rewrite history?". Star-Telegram. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Farris, Michael; Ellis, Jenna (September 29, 2016). "A Convention of the States to Amend the Constitution". National Review. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  27. 1 2 Weigel, David; Roller, Emma (December 10, 2013). "Give Me Amendments or Give Me Death". Slate. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  28. ↑ Coburn, Tom (February 24, 2015). "A means to smite the federal Leviathan". Washington Times. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  29. ↑ Ward, Jon (February 5, 2014). "Tom Coburn Decides Only A Constitutional Convention Can Fix Washington". Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  30. ↑ Bedard, Paul (February 2, 2015). "Palin joins push for 'Convention of States' to throttle Obama". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  31. ↑ Burk, Eric. "Huckabee and Others Endorse COS Project". Convention of States. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  32. ↑ Wolverton, Joe (2013-08-22). "Levin, Limbaugh, Hannity Calling for Con-Con". The New American. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  33. ↑ Grissom, Brandi (January 26, 2016). "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's play for national audience draws questions about higher-office plans". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "The Convention of States Project Announces Formation of Prestigious "Legal Board of Reference" in Support of Article V". CNBC. PR Newswire. 2014-09-29. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  35. ↑ Lifson, Thomas (October 1, 2014). "Article V convention moves a step closer". American Thinker. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  36. ↑ Sherfinski, David (December 30, 2015). "Rubio backs call for constitutional convention to balance budget, impose term limits". Washington Times. Retrieved 4 January 2016.

External links

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