About Common Cause

Common Cause is one of the most active, effective, and respected nonprofit organizations working for political change in America. We are a nonpartisan citizens' lobby, dedicated to making government responsive and accountable to the people. Since the 1970s, we have led the fight for campaign finance reforms, ethics and accountability in government, civil rights, and open government on national, state and local levels.

Now with nearly 400,000 members and supporters and 36 state organizations, Common Cause remains committed to helping citizens make their voices heard in the political process and holding elected leaders accountable to the public interest.

Our president, Bob Edgar, has a long history of leadership and public service that includes 12 years in Congress. Bob was part of the congressional class nicknamed "the Watergate babies," those elected in the wake of the Watergate scandal and who led sweeping reforms of Congress. Jim Leach serves as the chair of our National Governing Board. He is the Interim Director of the Institute of Politics of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is on leave from Princeton University, where he is the John L. Weinberg Visiting Professor of Public and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School.

Click here to learn more about our history and accomplishments.