Raising the nation's public policy IQ...Adding the National Initiative to Democracy's Toolbox.

"The erosion of public confidence is due to the misuse of money and power. We're creating the missing institution in the U.S. We're putting checks and balances between the legislature and the people."  Ed Koupal

Sites of interest:

American World Service Corps

People's Lobby and People's Lobby's Education Foundation's project to educate and move the American public and its representatives to enact the critically needed American World Service Corps. Imagine how much smarter America will be and how much better off the world  will be when a million Americans a year are serving at home and/or abroad dealing with poverty, ignorance, hatreds, global climate change, etc.

National Initiative USA 

The National Initiative For Democracy is a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and an accompanying federal statute.  It was inspired by 1976 US Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings initiated by two People's Lobby Board Members. When enacted, the National Initiative will bring the People into government as lawmakers at the national level and in every state and local government jurisdiction in the United States. In 2002, People's Lobby loaned funds to the Main National Initiative Kickoff Campaign in order to give the People of the United States an opportunity to enact the National Initiative via a national election / polling campaign. 

Initiative & Referendum Institute:

What is the Initiative & Referendum Institute? 

The Initiative & Referendum Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, educational and research organization that does what no other national group does - we analyze, promote and defend one of the most powerful tools in American politics - the initiative and referendum process.

The initiative and referendum process has been a critical tool to check the power of unresponsive and unaccountable government at the state and local level for 100 years. Through its use, women gained the right to vote, we can directly elect our U.S. Senators, we have direct primaries, term limits on 18 state legislatures, tax and spending limits, the eight-hour work day, environmental reforms and much, much more. In 1998 alone, the 100th anniversary of initiative and referendum, voters were heard on such issues as affirmative action, animal rights, term limits, tax limits, and medical marijuana, to name a few.

The mission of the Initiative & Referendum Institute is to research and develop clear analysis of the initiative process and its use; to inform and educate the public about the process and its effects on the political, fiscal and social fabric of our society; and to provide effective leadership in litigation – defending the initiative process and the right of citizens to reform their government from career legislators who want to take it away...

Public Citizen

Founded by Ralph Nader in 1971, Public Citizen is the consumer's eyes and ears in Washington. With the support of more than 150,000 people like you, we fight for safer drugs and medical devices, cleaner and safer energy sources, a cleaner environment, fair trade, and a more open and democratic government.

We stand up for you against thousands of special interest lobbyists in Washington -- well-heeled agents for drug companies, the automakers, big energy interests, and the like. Our budget is small by comparison. But Public Citizen is respected and effective, precisely because we accept no government or corporate support. We speak only for you.

Democratic World Federalists

Among the principles that it promotes are: 'The people, as sovereign citizens, are inherently endowed with the authority and the duty to govern themselves, either directly or through elected representatives, on all levels of society and ultimately the world.

Vote Smart

Recently recognized by the American Political Science Association as the best and easiest source in existence for abundant, accurate, useful information on candidates and issues.

Vote.org

Promotes Philadelphia II's Direct Democracy Initiative and works to perfect it.  Vote.org also provides information and consulting from the directors of the National Science Foundation's Televote trials and Boulder, Colorado's Voting by Phone ballot initiative.