Our Issues
The Common Cause Rhode Island Board of Governors identifies key issues we will pursue, establishes the organization’s policies on those issues, and directs the executive director and staff in implementing those policies.
Please click on individual issues pages for more information:
Campaigns & Elections
Ensuring that the voters, not special interests, own the elections process. The State Election laws are contained in Title 17 of the Rhode Island General Laws (RIGL).
The Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act is §17-25.
Ethics
Ensuring that state and local governments and their officials are open, honest, and accountable to the public. The State Code of Ethics is RIGL § 36-14.
Freedom of Information
Ensuring that the public has timely access to official documents and that public officials do not deny that access.
The state’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) is RIGL § 38-2.
Ensuring that the public is notified of meetings held by public bodies as required by the Open Meetings Laws (OMA: RIGL § 42-46)
Judicial Reform
Ensuring that judges continue to be appointed through the merit selection process established by the voters in 1994; and working to bring the appointment of court magistrates under merit selection. RI Constitution Art. X § 4 governs the appointment of judges.
Judicial Selection is in RIGL § 8-16.1.
Separation of Powers
Ensuring that each of the three branches of state government stays within its constitutional boundaries and does not encroach upon the other branches.
RI Constitution Art. III § 6; RI Const. Art. V; RI Const. Art. VI § 10 (repealed); RI Const. Art. IX § 5.
Current Advocacy Agenda
Working to insure full implementation of the Separation of Powers in Rhode Island
Helping the Rhode Island Ethics Commission strengthen ethics regulations on conflict of interest. Specifically revising the 7(b) class exception regulation. [Ethics Regulation 36-14-5004 and -5005.]
Gaining passage of legislation requiring training for public official responsible for providing access to public records; requiring those officials to respond directly to requests for public documents within three business days. RIGL §38-2.
Gaining passage of legislation requiring that magistrates be appointed as judges under the merit selection process administered by the non-partisan and independent Judicial Nominating Commission. RI Constitution Art. X § 4 governs the appointment of judges.
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