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Summary
- Abstract:
- The records of New York State Common Cause document campaigns against political action committees, election reform, civil service reform, and accountability issues.
- Extent:
- 7 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, New York State Common Cause (NYSCC) Records, 1972-1987. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the NYSCC Records).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The records of New York State Common Cause span the years 1972 through 1987. Since NYSCC is an organization that campaigns for accountability in government, its records would be of interest to researchers of campaigns against political action committees (PACs), 1980-86; election reform, 1977-83; civil service reform, 1978-80; and accountability issues such as Sunset Law reform, 1976-78.
A major issue of concern to NYSCC has been the contribution political action committees make to election campaigns. Studies conducted by NYSCC determined the amount of money donated to individual candidates by PACs. Another important issue documented in the records of NYSCC are several reports on the inequality of the electoral campaign system, specifically on the advantage that incumbent candidates hold in most elections.
As an early advocate and, later, as a prominent member of the New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying, NYSCC retained ample documentation of that body, including minutes, correspondence and the records of legal challenges to the commission such as "Hobday, et al., v. the New York Temporary State Commission on Regulation of Lobbying." Other records relating to lobbying in New York State include an analysis of how agencies retained agency logs (registers of lobbyists who have approached state agencies), lobbying registration forms that NYSCCC filed with the state, and studies by NYSCC on the money spent on lobbying by business interests.
Of particular note for researchers should be the interviews with politicians contained in the OUTS (Open Up the System) surveys that NYSCC conducted from 1976 to 1980 on such issues as legislative reform, PAC regulation, lobbying reform, conflict of interest in the legislature, and the public financing of campaigns. Politicians surveyed include such prominent individuals as Senator Warren Anderson. The OUTS Surveys reveal the positions of senators and assembly persons on specific bills before the legislature as well as their attitudes toward the wider issues concerning the access to and structure of government.
- Biographical / Historical:
New York State Common Cause (NYSCC), a state chapter of Common Cause, was founded in 1973 as a grassroots organization to promote an open and accountable legislative process. NYSCC advocates the participation of all members of society in the government process as a means to ensure that lawmakers will be responsible for their legislative decisions. To achieve its goals, NYSCC actively lobbies for and against legislation at the state level.
The function of the Executive Committee is to develop policy, but the Governing Board must approve these recommendations before these become the actual policy of NYSCC. The Executive Director, who is the public representative of NYSCC, is accountable to the Governing Board and implements policies approved by the Board. The Chairman of the Board, an unpaid member elected to this post, is the chief officer of NYSCC. With the exception of the director and some office help, NYSCC is staffed by volunteers whose major duties are to lobby legislators. NYSCC also manages an internship program which uses volunteers to generate reports, perform surveys, carry on a dialogue with lawmakers, and generally to perform the duties of a staff member.
In 1988, after having maintained two offices, one in New York City and a head office in Albany, NYSCC closed its Albany office and moved all operations to New York City, the center of its financial and volunteer support.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, by New York State Common Cause on 29 April 1988.
- Processing information:
Processed in 1989 by Barbara Snow and Geoffrey Huth.
- Arrangement:
- Series 1 - Subject Files. 1976-1987. 3 cubic feet. Arranged alphabetically.
- Series 2: Issues Files. 1976-87. 3 cubic feet. Arranged alphabetically.
- Series 3: Lobbying Files. 1976-87. 0.5 cubic feet. Arranged alphabetically.
- Series 4: OUTS (Open Up The System). 1976-80. 0.5 cubic feet. Arranged alphabetically.
This collection is arranged into four series.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Social Activists and Public Advocates
Lobbying--Law and legislation
Political action committees--Law and legislation
Political action committees--United States
Elections--New York (State)
Elections--New York (State)--New York
Newsletters
Correspondence
Administrative records
Minutes
Programs (documents) - Names:
- New York State Common Cause
- Places:
- Albany (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, New York State Common Cause (NYSCC) Records, 1972-1987. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the NYSCC Records).