INTERNET RESOURCES
MULTI-ISSUE CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
The American Bar Association Individual Rights & Responsibilities Section –
www.abanet.org/irr/home.html
The section of the ABA, the United States’ largest professional organization of
attorneys, that specializes in protecting and advancing individual human rights, civil
liberties, and social justice. Its periodical, Human Rights, is published in full text on
the site, as is the IRR News Report.
The American Civil Liberties Union – www.aclu.org
The ACLU is one of the most respected civil rights/civil liberties organizations in
the US. With affiliate organizations in each state, and national projects that
specialize in particular areas of concern (privacy and reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS,
free speech, prison conditions, immigrant rights, employment rights etc), the ACLU
is engaged in more litigation to protect rights than any other single US organization.
It also has a very active public education program that includes publication of a
series of books “Your Rights As….” (a woman, a student, an employee, etc). The
ACLU also has an active lobbying presence in Congress and each state legislature.
The Center for Constitutional Rights – www.ccr-ny.org
The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) is a non-profit legal and educational
organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights guaranteed by the U.S.
Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR uses litigation
proactively to advance the law in a positive direction, to empower poor communities
and communities of color, to guarantee the rights of those with the fewest
protections and the least access to legal resources, to train the next generation of
constitutional and human rights attorneys, and to strengthen the broader movement
for constitutional and human rights.
Civil Rights.Org – www.civilrights.org
Civilrights.org's mission is to empower the civil rights community to lead the fight
for equality and social justice in the emerging digital society through the
establishment of an online social justice network. This network, the Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights, is a coalition of 185 national organizations representing
persons of color, women, children, labor unions, individuals with disabilities, older
Americans, major religious groups, gays and lesbians, and civil liberties and human
rights group. The Leadership Conference promotes the coalition’s civil rights
advocacy agenda in partnership with its sister organization, the Leadership
Conference Education Fund.
Justice Learning http://www.justicelearning.org/
Funded by the Annenberg Foundation, this site provides issues in civics and law for
use in the classroom. Articles from many news sources discuss the issues from
many perspectives.
The Center for Law and Social Policy – www.clasp.org
A public interest law and policy organization, CLASP's economic security work
focuses on welfare reform, workforce development, childcare, child support, and
the intersection of reproductive health and welfare.
The Constitution Project – www.constitutionproject.org
The Constitution Project is a bipartisan nonprofit organization that seeks consensus
on controversial legal and constitutional issues through a unique combination of
scholarship and activism.
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights – www.lchr.org
Since 1978, the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights has worked in the
U.S. and abroad to create a secure and humane world by advancing justice,
human dignity and respect for the rule of law. LCHR supports human rights
activists who fight for basic freedoms and peaceful change at the local level;
protects refugees in flight from persecution and repression; promotes fair
economic practices by creating safeguards for workers' rights; and helps
build a strong international system of justice and accountability for the worst
human rights crimes.
National Legal Aid & Defender Association – www.nlada.org
NLADA is the United State’s leading advocate for “front line” attorneys working
with low-income clients, and their families and communities. It is the nation’s
oldest and largest national non-profit membership organization serving the broad
equal justice community. NLADA represents attorneys in public defender and legal
aid programs, providing –respectively – legal assistance to indigent persons in
criminal and civil matters.
The Alliance for Justice – www.afj.org
The Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights,
mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations. Since its
inception in 1979, the Alliance has worked to advance the cause of justice for all
Americans, strengthen the public interest community's ability to influence public
policy, and foster the next generation of advocates.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
American Bar Association, National Center for Children and the Law www.abanet.org/child/home2.html
The ABA initiative to advance children’s lives through “law, justice, knowledge,
practice and public policy.” Website includes links to the National Child Welfare
Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues, the National Child Welfare Court
Improvement Webpage, and other reports, journals, and a calendar of training
conferences.
Annie E. Casey Foundation – www.aecf.org
The Casey Foundation is one of the United States’ leading philanthropic
organizations supporting research and policy work about children and youth, with a
particular focus on at-risk children. It publishes each year a national data book
called KidsCount that is an invaluable source of information about the well being of
the nation’s children.
Benton Foundation’s Connect for Kids – www.connectforkids.org
This website seeks to bring together data, research, policy recommendations, and
best practices from all over the nation. A weekly electronic newsletter also is
published; subscription is free.
The Clearinghouse on International Developments in Child, Youth and Family
Policies – www.childpolicyintl.org
The Clearinghouse provides cross-national comparative information about the
policies, programs, benefits and services available in 23 industrialized countries that
address child, youth, and family needs. The Clearinghouse disseminates information
via this web site as well as periodic newsletters, issue briefs, and press releases.
Children’s Rights – www.childrensrights.org
A national non-profit organization that grew out of the ACLU that brings systemic
class action litigation to protect the rights of abused and neglected children who are
in state foster care systems.
The Children's Defense Fund – www.childrensdefense.org
CDF lobbies for all the children of American, paying particular attention to the
needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.
The Future of Children – www.futureofchildren.org
The Lucille and David Packard Foundation funds multiple initiatives in the US to
improve the well being of children. One such initiative is a publication called The
Future of Children which brings together the very best thinking and data on each issue
covered. The publication is free, and invaluable. Topics have included the rights
of children to health care, and rights of children in divorce and custody disputes,
children’s health care in an era of managed care, and juvenile justice.
National Association of Child Advocates – www.childadvocacy.org
A national association of state-based child advocacy organizations. Includes at least
one child advocacy organization per state. Website includes materials produced by
NACA, or otherwise considered useful to child advocates.
National Center for Children in Poverty – www.nccp.org
Located at the Columbia School of Public Health, NCCP identifies and promotes
strategies to prevent young child poverty in the United States and improve the life
chances of the millions of children under age six who are growing up poor.
National Center for Youth Law – www.youthlaw.org
A private, non-profit law office serving the legal needs of children and their
families, the National Center for Youth Law uses the law to protect children from
the harms caused by poverty, and to improve the lives of children living in poverty.
UNICEF – www.unicef.org
Established by the United Nations after World War II as the United Nations
International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF provides an important role
internationally in education about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and
about the well being of children all over the world. Its Innocenti Research Center is
a useful source of research on social and economic policy and the application of
human rights instruments for the protection of children and youth.
The Youth Law Center – www.youthlawcenter.com
The Youth Law Center is a national non-profit, public interest law office that works
to protect abused and at-risk children since 1978. The goal of the Youth Law
Center's work is to ensure that vulnerable children are provided with the conditions
and services they need to grow into healthy, productive adults.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Amnesty International – www.amnesty-usa.org
Amnesty International is dedicated to freeing prisoners of conscience, gaining fair
trials for political prisoners, ending torture, political killings and "disappearances,"
and abolishing the death penalty throughout the world. Amnesty International USA
(AIUSA) is the U.S. Section of Amnesty International.
Building Blocks for Youth – www.buildingblocksforyouth.org
Building Blocks for Youth is an alliance of children's advocates, researchers, law
enforcement professionals and community organizers that seeks to protect minority
youth in the justice system and promote rational and effective justice policies.
Criminal Justice Policy Foundation – www.cjpf.org
The foundation provides information to the public about issues in state and federal
anti-crime proposals, e.g. "three strikes and you're out," mandatory minimum
sentences, drug sentences, crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity,
forfeiture, gun control, crime prevention, prison construction, community policing,
juvenile delinquency and prosecution, federalization of local crimes, and more.
Justice Information Center – ncjrs.aspensys.com
Designed to be a clearinghouse for all information on criminal and criminal youth
justice, the Justice Information Center allows users to search its holdings by topic
and keyword.
National Prison Project – www.aclu.org/issues/prisons/npp_mission.html
The National Prison Project, a part of the ACLU, seeks to reduce prison
overcrowding, reduce reliance on incarceration as a criminal justice sanction, create
constitutional prison conditions and strengthen prisoners' rights through a program
of class action litigation and public education. It publishes a quarterly Journal,
provides expert advice and technical assistance to local community groups and
lawyers throughout the country and works with the media.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – ojjdp.ncjrs.org
OJJDP was established as part of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act of 1974 with a primary mandate of removing status offenders from juvenile
detention and correctional facilities (status offenders being youth who have
committed offenses that would not be crimes if they had been committed by
adults). Its website has an abundance of information about juvenile justice, riskfactors for juvenile delinquency, best practices in juvenile delinquency prevention
and juvenile justice reform initiatives.
Vera Institute of Justice – www.vera.org
The Vera Institute of Justice is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to making
government policies and practices more fair and humane for all people. Working in
collaboration with government and local communities, Vera designs and
implements innovative programs that expand the practice of justice in public service
and improve the quality of urban life. Vera operates demonstration projects,
conducts original research, and offers technical assistance to public officials in New
York City and beyond.
ECONOMIC RIGHTS
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – www.cbpp.org
Founded in 1981, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has emerged over the
past two decades as one of the leading organizations in the country working on
fiscal policy issues and issues affecting low- and moderate-income families and
individuals. The Center specializes in research and budget analysis oriented toward
policy decisions that policymakers face at both federal and state levels. The Center
examines data and research findings and produces analyses designed to be accessible
to public officials, other non-profit organizations, and the media.
The Brookings Institution – www.brook.edu/ES/ES_HP.htm
The Brookings Economic Studies program analyzes current and emerging economic
policy issues facing the United States and the industrialized and developing world.
Center for Economic Policy Analysis – www.newschool.edu/cepa
The center is the research arm of the Department of Economics at the New School
University. It is the goal of CEPA to build an active forum for debates on
macroeconomic policy, wage inequality, and globalization.
Center for Economic and Policy Research – www.cepr.net
CEPR was established to promote democratic debate on the most important
economic and social issues that affect people's lives.
Citizens for Tax Justice – www.ctj.org
Committed to tax justice at the federal, state, and local levels, CTJ is a research and
advocacy organization that promotes: fair taxes for middle- and low-income
families; requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes; closing corporate tax
loopholes; adequate funding of important government services; reducing the federal
debt; and taxation that minimizes distortion of economic markets. Includes the
Good Jobs First initiative that documents best practices in state and local economic
development incentives.
Corporation for Enterprise Development – www.cfed.org
The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) fosters widely shared and
sustainable economic well being. CFED promotes asset-building and economic
opportunity strategies, primarily in low-income and distressed communities, that
bring together community practice, public policy, and private markets in new and
effective ways. Publishes a useful “development report card” that ranks states on
various indices of development, including level of education and income equality.
Economic Policy Institute – www.epinet.org
Founded in 1986 by a group of economic policy experts, EPI seeks to broaden the
public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy. Many
useful reports on labor market and workforce changes in the US and its states.
National Fair Housing Alliance – www.nationalfairhousing.org
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the voice of fair housing. NFHA
works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity
for all people through leadership, education and outreach, membership services,
public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement.
National Low Income Housing Coalition – www.nlihc.org
Established in 1974, NLIHC is dedicated solely to ending the United States’
affordable housing crisis. Provides current information, policy reports and
recommendations, and educates the public on housing needs and the strategies for
solutions.
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation - www.mdrc.org
MDRC is non-partisan, non-profit social policy research organization. Through
rigorous research, actively disseminated, it seeks to build and communicate
knowledge that improves the well being of low-income people and the effectiveness
of public policies and programs that serve them. Areas of focus include welfare,
employment, and income security programs, education, and community-building
initiatives. It also provides technical assistance to help states and towns adopt best
practices (including how-to guides on post-employment services and services for
the hard to employ).
National Center for Policy Analysis – www.ncpa.org
The NCPA is a nonprofit public policy research institute. Its website offers a wealth
of analysis, debate, and in-depth research from around the world.
The National Center on Poverty Law – www.povertylaw.org
The National Center on Poverty Law (NCPL) is a legal and policy research,
communications, and advocacy organization that provides national leadership in
identifying, developing, and supporting creative and collaborative approaches to
achieve social and economic justice for low-income people.
The National Employment Law Project – www.nelp.org
NELP has advocated for over 30 years on behalf of low-wage workers, the poor,
the unemployed, and other groups that face significant barriers to employment and
government systems of support. Several common themes connect NELP’s work:
ensuring that employment laws cover all workers; supporting worker organizing and
alliance-building among key constituent groups working with low-wage workers;
helping workers stay connected to jobs and employment benefits; and expanding
employment laws to meet the needs of workers and families in changing economic
conditions.
Tax Analysts Policy Center – www.tax.org
Tax Analysts Policy Center is dedicated to fostering debate on tax and budget
issues. Through such debate, the center hopes to promote tax systems that are fair
and efficient.
The Urban Institute – www.urban.org
The Urban Institute was established in 1968 to monitor and evaluate the Great
Society program established by the Johnson administration. It was charged with
providing independent analysis and research to improve understanding of the
causes of urban unrest, focusing much of its research on persistent domestic
problems such as poverty, education finance, unemployment, urban housing
shortages, and welfare reform. Its current research agenda has broadened to
include research on taxes, criminal justice, governance in new democracies, health
care policy and philanthropy. Its Assessing the New Federalism Project is
monitoring the transformation of the United States’ “safety net” system (from one
with some entitlement to so-called welfare “reform”).
The Welfare Law Center – www.welfarelaw.org
The Welfare Law Center works with and on behalf of low-income people to ensure
that adequate income support -- public funding provided based on the basis of need
-- is available whenever and to the extent necessary to meet basic needs and foster
healthy human and family development.
EQUALITY
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund – www.aaldef.org
Works to protect and promote the civil rights of Asian Americans through
litigation, advocacy and community education.
Human Rights Campaign – www.hrc.org
Largest national lesbian and gay political organization that lobbies Congress,
provides campaign support to candidates for federal office, and works to educate
the public on a range of issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
Americans, including workplace, family and discrimination issues.
Lambda Legal Defense – www.lambdalegal.org
Lambda Legal Defense is a national organization committed to achieving full
recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, the transgendered, and
people with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy
work. Lambda Legal carries out its legal work principally through test cases selected
for the likelihood of their success in establishing positive legal precedents.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – www.lawyerscomm.org
This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization was formed in 1963 at the request of
President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to
address racial discrimination through litigation and public policy advocacy. Given
the US’s history of racial discrimination, de jure segregation, and the de facto inequities
that persist, the Lawyers' Committee's primary focus has been on issues of racial
justice and economic opportunity and on representing the interests of African
Americans in particular, other racial and ethnic minorities, and other victims of
discrimination, where doing so can help to secure justice for all racial and ethnic
minorities.
Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund – www.maldef.org
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is now the leading non-profit Latino litigation,
advocacy, and educational outreach institution in the US. Its mission is to foster
sound public policies, laws, and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 35
million Latinos living in the US. Its primary focus is in the areas of employment,
education, immigration, political access/redistricting, language, and equity in the
allocation of public resources.
The National Urban League – www.nul.org
The National Urban League’s mission is to enable African-Americans to secure
economic self-reliance, parity and power, and civil rights. It has affiliates in 100 US
cities in 34 states. The website’s virtual library contains a variety of reports and
speeches.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – www.naacp.org
The NAACP's principal objective is to ensure the political, educational, social and
economic equality of minority group citizens of the United States.
The Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund – www.prldef.org
PRLDEF, on behalf of Puerto Ricans and the wider Latino community, seeks to:
secure, promote and protect civil and human rights; attain full civic participation,
engagement and empowerment; preserve a healthy and vibrant Latino culture;
realize Latino participation in a strong civil society that enjoys fully- developed
community-based institutions; ensure Latino access to the legal and other
professions; achieve educational excellence; and become a recognized and respected
leader in national civil rights and international human rights communities
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS
National Coalition Against Censorship – www.ncac.org
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) is an alliance of over 40
national non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational,
professional, labor, and civil liberties groups. NCAC strives to create a climate of
opinion hospitable to First Amendment freedoms in the broader community.
People for the American Way – www.pfaw.org
People For the American Way Foundation is committed to defending democracy
and bringing the ideals of community, opportunity, diversity, equality and fairness
together to form a strong, united voice. To achieve this, PFAWF conducts
research, legal and education work, as well as monitors and researches the Religious
Right movement and its political allies. The organization is a premier source of vital
information for policymakers, scholars and activists nationwide.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press – www.rcfp.org
An organization dedicated to providing free legal help to journalists and news
organizations. Publishes an on-line journal, The News Media and the Law, available on
its website.
Freedom to Read Foundation – www.ftrf.org
Established to promote and defend the first amendment; to foster libraries and
institutions wherein every individual's First Amendment freedoms are fulfilled; and
to support the right of libraries to include in their collections and make available any
work that they may legally acquire.
GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT
The Project on Government Secrecy – www.fas.org/sgp
The Project on Government Secrecy of the Federation of American Scientists
works to challenge excessive government secrecy and to promote public oversight.
Its home page showcases a hypertext archive of the Secrecy and Government
Bulletin, related documents from the Clinton Administration, and documents from
the Security Policy Board. The site also contains information on security
classification. It publishes monthly, Secrecy News, which is available on-line.
EFF
"Freedom
of
Information
Act
&
Open
Government"
–
www.eff.org//Activism/FOIA
This section of the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s site contains a hypertext
version of the FOIA text.
Electronic
Privacy
Information
Center
FOIA
Docket
–
www.epic.org/open_gov/foia/docket.html
EPIC makes frequent use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain
information from the government about cryptography and privacy policy. Public
disclosure of this information improves government oversight and accountability. It
also helps ensure that the public is fully informed about the activities of
government.
OMB Watch – www.ombwatch.org
OMB Watch focuses on budget issues, regulatory policy, nonprofit policy,
nonprofit advocacy, access to government information, and activities at the United
States’ Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
HEALTH AND DISABILITY LAW
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law – www.bazelon.org
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is the most prominent
nonprofit legal advocacy organization working to protect the rights of persons with
mental illness. Its advocacy is based on the principle that every individual is entitled
to choice and dignity. For many people with mental disabilities, this means
something as basic as having a decent place to live, supportive services and equality
of opportunity.
American Bar Association, Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law –
www.abanet.org/disability
The mission of the Commission is to promote the ABA's commitment to justice
and the rule of law for persons with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities and to
promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund – www.dredf.org
Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities,
DREDF is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing
the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy,
technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons
with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.
Families USA – www.familiesusa.org
Families USA is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the
achievement of high-quality, affordable health care and long-term care for all
Americans. An effective voice for consumers of health care for over 15 years, it
acts as an information hub for various advocacy efforts, a watchdog over
government actions affecting health care, and produces useful health policy reports
describing problems faced by health care consumers and steps to address them.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – www.nami.org
NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of
consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as
schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
and anxiety disorders.
The National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems –
www.protectionandadvocacy.com
The national network of Congressionally-mandated disability rights organizations.
P&A agencies provide legal representation and other advocacy services under federal
and state law to persons with disabilities. P&A agencies also maintain a presence in
facilities that care for persons with disabilities where they monitor, investigate and
attempt to remedy adverse conditions.
The National Council on Disability – www.ncd.gov
NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures
that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the
nature or severity of the disability, and to empower individuals with disabilities to
achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration
into all aspects of society.
The National Health Law Program – www.healthlaw.org
The National Health Law Program is a national public interest law firm that seeks to
improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the
elderly and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves legal services programs,
community-based organizations, the private bar, providers and individuals who work
to preserve a health care safety net for the millions of uninsured or underinsured
low-income people. Its website is one of the best in health law-related research and
policy analyses.
The American Civil Rights Coalition – www.acrc.org
ACRC focuses on education, outreach and programs that address the health
concerns of traditionally under-represented communities, such as women, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, Asians, and injection drug users. Work has a special emphasis
on HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.
IMMIGRATION LAW
The National Immigration Law Center – www.nilc.org
NILC is a national support center whose mission is to protect and promote the
rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their family members.
NILC staff specialize in immigration law, and the employment and public benefits
rights of immigrants. The Center conducts policy analysis and impact litigation and
provides publications, technical advice, and trainings to a broad constituency of legal
aid agencies, community groups, and pro bono attorneys.
The National Immigration Forum – www.immigrationforum.org
The purpose of the National Immigration Forum is to embrace and uphold
America's tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds
public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and that are
fair and supportive to newcomers in our country.
American Immigration Lawyer's Association – www.aila.org
Founded in 1946, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is a bar
association of over 7,500 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach
immigration law. Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of US businesses
and industries, foreign students, entertainers, and asylum seekers, often on a pro
bono basis. AILA is an Affiliated Organization of the American Bar Association.
LAW AND TECHNOLOGY
Electronic Frontier Foundation – www.eff.org
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was created to defend our rights to think,
speak, and share our ideas, thoughts, and needs using new technologies, such as the
Internet and the World Wide Web. EFF was the first organization to identify threats
to our basic rights online and to advocate on behalf of free expression in the digital
age.
Electronic Privacy Information Center – www.epic.org
EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in
1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect
privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values.
Center for Democracy and Technology – www.cdt.org
The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic values
and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise in law, technology, and
policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance free expression and privacy in
global communications technologies.
VOTING RIGHTS/DEMOCRACY
Annenberg Political Fact Check http://www.factcheck.org/
Fact Check, project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of
Pennsylvania, is nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to
reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. It aims to increase
public knowledge and understanding by monitoring the factual accuracy of political
dialogue. It monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political
players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. The
goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase
public knowledge and understanding.
Common Cause – www.commoncause.org
Common Cause is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen's lobbying organization
promoting open, honest and accountable government. Supported by the dues and
contributions of over 200,000 members in every state across the nation, Common
Cause represents the unified voice of the people against corruption in government
and big money special interests.
Demos – www.demos-usa.org
Demos is committed to bringing everyone into the life of American democracy and to
achieving a broadly shared prosperity characterized by greater opportunity and less
disparity. Founded in 1999, Demos combines research with advocacy – melding the
commitment to ideas of a think tank with the organizing strategies of an advocacy
group. It works on issues of voter registration and participation, campaign finance
reform, and reducing economic inequality. Its Democracy Dispatches electronic
newsletter analyses legislative and political developments on democracy issues.
Project Vote Smart – www.vote-smart.org
This website provides information on the government and a variety of issues like
affirmative action, immigration, and campaign finance.
Rock the Vote – www.rockthevote.org
This initiative seeks to protect freedom of speech, educate young people about the
issues that affect them, and motivate young people to participate in the democratic
process by registering to vote, voting, and speaking out.
The League of Women Voters – www.lwv.org
The LWV is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and
active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of
major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and
advocacy. Holds candidate debates in all 50 states to promote an informed citizenry.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Center for Women Policy Studies – www.centerwomenpolicy.org
Since its founding in 1972 as the nation’s first feminist policy research organization,
the Center for Women Policy Studies has been on the front lines of efforts to
promote justice and equality for women.
Equality Now – www.equalitynow.org
Equality Now is an international human rights organization dedicated to the civil,
political, economic and social rights of girls and women. Issues addressed include
rape, trafficking, domestic violence, female infanticide, sexual harassment and genital
mutilation. Action is taken through letter writing and fax campaigns, video
witnessing and media events.
Equal Rights Advocates – www.equalrights.org
Equal Rights Advocates' mission is to protect and secure equal rights and economic
opportunities for women and girls through litigation and advocacy.
The National Organization of Women – www.now.org
NOW's website contains a comprehensive array of information about the
organization, including online versions of their print publication, NOW Times.
Sections on the site include NOW Political Action Committee, Young Feminists and
Global Sisters.
NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund – www.nowldef.org
An organization with a long and distinguished history of litigation to advance
women’s rights. Has been actively involved in cases involving reproductive rights,
employment discrimination, family law, and various other women’s rights issues.
National Partnership for Women & Families – www.nationalpartnership.org
The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization that uses public education and advocacy to promote fairness in the
workplace, quality health care, and policies that help women and men meet the dual
demands of work and family.
The National Abortion Rights Action League – www.naral.org
NARAL works to protect and preserve the women’s reproductive rights while
promoting policies and programs that improve women's health and make abortion
less necessary.
National Women's Law Center – www.nwlc.org
Established in 1972, the Center works to protect and advance (through policy
research, litigation, and public education) the progress of women and girls at work, in
school, and in virtually every aspect of their lives. Issues of interest include: athletics,
childcare, child and family support, health, employment, and reproductive rights.
Planned Parenthood – www.plannedparenthood.org
Planned Parenthood is dedicated to the principles that every individual has a
fundamental right to decide when or whether to have a child, and that every child
should be wanted and loved.
GOVERNMENT-RELATED HUBS
FedWorld – www.fedworld.gov
A gateway site for hundreds of US government websites and databases.
National Governors’ Association – www.nga.org
Association of Governors of the 50 states in US. Provides very useful policy reports
on a wide variety of issues facing state governments.
National Conference of State Legislatures – www.ncsl.org
Association of the members of the legislatures of the 50 states in the US. Like the
NGA site, provides a wealth of policy information and information about best
practices.
THOMAS – thomas.loc.gov
A project of the Library of Congress, THOMAS is a search engine for federal
legislation, making both current and past legislative information freely and easily
accessible to the public.
United States Supreme Court – www.supremecourtus.gov
The official website of the United States Supreme Court.
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division – www.usdoj.gov/crt
Includes documents about cases brought by the Justice Department to enforce civil
rights law, background on various civil rights laws, and the full text of documents
that are frequently requested under the US Freedom of Information Act, including
the text of DOJ settlement agreements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Census Online – www.census.gov
This online searchable database of data from the United States Census Bureau
provides access to many different useful facts and data sets.
PUBLIC POLICY HUBS
The Electronic Policy Network – www.movingideas.org
The Electronic Policy Network was established by Professor Paul Starr at Princeton
University to bring together – virtually – some of the best thinking on policy issues
facing the United States. It acts as a gateway site to other important organizations,
and features useful policy overviews, as well.
Common Dreams News Center – www.commondreams.org
A website that seeks to bring together “breaking news and views for the progressive
community.” It highlights articles of interest from a wide variety of newspapers and
publications from all over the world
The Center for Policy Alternatives – www.stateaction.org
A non-partisan progressive public policy and leadership development center serving
state legislators, state policy organizations, and state grassroots organizations. It
develops policy briefs in many areas, talking points, and model legislation. Its
website is a useful source of legislative ideas.
The Pew Center on the States – www.stateline.org
Stateline.org was founded to help journalists, policy makers and engaged citizens
become better informed about innovative public policies. The site recognizes that
devolution has made the states more than ever the laboratories of democracy, but
that the changing economics of the news business has had a severe impact on the
size of the press corps covering state capitals. This site helps to meet the gap
between information needed, and what had been easily available, regarding policy
actions in the states.
ONE-STOP SITE FOR US LAW
Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute – www.law.cornell.edu
A gateway site to the law of the United States and of its 50 states. Includes links to
the Constitutions and statutes of the US and its states, links to all US regulations, to
the opinions of the United States Supreme Court and of the highest courts of all
states (as well as briefs and transcripts of oral arguments for cases decided by the
United States Supreme Court). Also useful is the “Law About…..” section that
provides a very brief summary of multiple areas of law, and direct links from the
summaries to pertinent constitutional and statutory provisions and key decisions
interpreting them.
CLASSROOM RESOURCES
C-Span for the Classroom http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/
Free resources for the classroom.
Courtroom & Classroom
http://www.courtroomclassroom.com/cc/(izcd4k55dynxk22hp4vdohep)/index.aspx
Courtroom & Classroom is a unique publication specifically designed for your
social studies classroom. It adds real-life immediacy to American history,
government,
civics and all law-related courses. Courtroom & Classroom is not a set curriculum,
it is rather, a versatile newsletter that can be utilized in a number of ways to add
a law component to your classroom plan. Courtroom & Classroom articles
provide interesting reading, promote critical thinking, and stimulate lively
classroom discussions.
MEDIA
Columbia Journalism Review – http://www.cjrdaily.org/
Real-time media critiques from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
with liberal leanings. CJR was the first national journalism review, Its 22,000 readers
are disproportionately opinion makers. Since its founding in 1961, CJR has tackled
meaty issues from war reporting to the role class plays in media coverage.