Organizations

Meetup Groups

• Austin Constitution Meetup Group - Suggested model for other groups across the world.

Focus on Rights in General

1. We The People Foundation for Constitutional Education - Exists to Protect and Defend The Constitution of The United States of America. Currently focused on Continental Congress 2009.
2. Campaign for Liberty - Outgrowth of the Ron Paul movement.
3. Tenth Amendment Center - Serves Tenth Amendment movement.
4. The American Civil Liberties Union - Defender of constitutional rights, except the right to keep and bear arms and to assemble as independent militias. We're working on bringing them around.
5. Institute for Justice - Litigating for liberty. Libertarian alternative to the ACLU.
   • End Civil Forfeiture - Focus on one major form of abuse.
6. Bill of Rights Institute - Advocate compliance with the Bill of Rights.
7. Defending Rights and Dissent - Oppose civil liberties infringements of the "war on terrorism".
8. Downsize DC - Seek to reduce the size of the federal government to within its constitutional limits.
9. James Madison Center for Free Speech - Defends the rights of citizens to participate in our democracy.
10. Center for Individual Freedom - Focuses attention on individual freedoms and rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
11. Center for Constitutional Rights - Active in litigation on civil liberties.
12. Eagle Forum - Litigate with a pro-family focus. Founded and headed by Phyllis Schlafly.
13. Oath Keepers - Dedicated to taking seriously the oath to defend the Constitution.
14. Committee for Justice - Promotes constitutionalist judicial nominees.
15. Code Pink - Protest national security violations of constitutional rights. Name is parody of alert codes issued by Department of Homeland Security.
16. FNewseum Institute - Emphasizes First Amendment issues, especially freedom of the press.
17. International Action Center - Information, activism and resistance to U.S. militarism, war, and corporate greed. Founded by Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General.
18. First Amendment Coalition - Focus on first amendment issues, based in but not necessarily limited to California.
19. Future of Freedom Foundation - Publishes Freedom Daily.
20. National Center for Constitutional Studies - Public education on constitutional issues.
21. Equal Justice Foundation - Works to restore due process and reverse the loss of our civil liberties.
22. Wallbuilders - Rebuilding the foundations of constitutional liberty.
23. Original Intent - Seek to return to strict constitutional construction.
24. Transparency (International - Global coalition against corruption.

Focus on Second Amendment Rights - Also see Constitutional Defense page.

1. Militia Units - Directories and Web sites
2. Gun Owners of America, 8001 Forbes Place #102, Springfield, VA 22151, 703/321-8585 - The no-compromise poltical action group on firearm and militia rights.
3. National Rifle Association - Defender of the Second Amendment, but a little weak on the rest of the Constitution.
4. Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) - Another strong force for the RKBA.
5. The Lawyer's Second Amendment Society - Unites constitutionalist lawyers.
6. Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) - Tax-deductible companion to the CCRKBA.
7. Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership - Defend Second Amendment from a Jewish perspective. But non-Jews are welcome to join, too.
8. Opencarry.org - Promotes open carry legislation.
9. The Law Enforcement Alliance of America - Unites law enforcement professionals, opposes gun control.
10. Women Against Gun Control - Unites women who refuse to be helpless victims.
11. Madison Society - Focus on Second Amendment compliance through litigation.
12. Knife Rights - Defend right to keep and bear knives and other non-firearm weapons.
13. National Firearms Association - Canadian RKBA organization.

Focus on Jury Reform - Also see Jurisdiction and Due Process page.

1. Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) - Advocate jury nullification of unconstitutional statutes and law enforcement practices. Also see
   • Lone Star FIJA - Texas branch.
2. American Grand Jury Foundation (AGJF) - Encourages responsible and effective interventions by grand jurors and other citizens into local government affairs.
3. Jury Power - Working for jury reform at the state level.

Focus on Public Education - Also see Public Education page.

1. National Heritage Center for Constitutional Studies - Educates people on constitutional matters.
2. American Patriot Friends Network - Important clearinghouse for patriot information and alerts.
3. American Patriot Network - Support collabotation among different patriot groups.
4. The Constitution Project - Working for judicial independence, prevention of wrongful executions, election reform, restraint on amendments, and securing liberty in time of war.
5. Fund for Constitutional Government - Activist group, based in Washington, DC.
6. LEXREX - Dedicated to the Rule of Law.
7. Conservative Caucus - "Conservative activist's toolbox for restoring constitutional government".
8. Conservative Forum - Organized in Canada, but mainly address reform issues in the U.S. Many good links.
9. Citizens- Investigative Commission (CIC) - Expose official wrongdoing from a conservative position.
10. Educate America Foundation (EAF) - Home of The Third Mechanized Information Militia.
11. Media Research Center - Exposes bias in news reporting.
12. Accuracy in Media - Tries to correct bias and inaccuracy in mainstream news reporting.
13. Libertarianism Page - Presently mostly devoted to excerpts from David Boaz' books, but expanding.
14. International Association of Constitutional Law - Unites constitutionalists worldwide.
15. John Birch Society - Opposes socialism and threats to constitutional liberties.
16. Rochester L.A.W. - Legal study group, focus on New York State.
17. Centre for Constitutional Studies - Focus on Canada.
18. Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America - These two organizations are engaged in what amounts to militia training of young people, although they are not aware that that is what they are doing. This training needs to be further developed to put more emphasis on military, law enforcement, and disaster preparedness, and scouts need to be taught to interpret their constitutions.

Focus on Litigation - Also see Legal Reform page.

1. Judicial Watch - Monitors abuses in the judicial system.
2. Pacific Legal Foundation - Litigates with a libertarian agenda.
3. Landmark Legal Foundation - Working to reform government.
4. Rutherford Institute - Libertarian civil rights litigation.
5. Southeastern Legal Foundation - Defend civil rights. Helped Gary Aldritch publish his book, Unlimited Access.
6. Center for Individual Rights - Public-interest law firm that seeks reform through litigation.
7. Wallace Institute - Legal reform through strategic litigation.
8. LawfulGov.Org - Implementing political and legal interventions against overreaching government.
9. United States Justice Foundation - Fighting for your rights in court.
10. Landmark Legal Foundation - Seek reform through litigation.

Focus on Research and Publication

1. Independence Institute - Good source for books.
2. Independent Institute - Publish scholarly journal, The Independent Review, and operate a bookstore with some excellent selections. Based in Oakland, California.
3. Heritage Foundation - Publishes the Policy Review.
   • Heritage Action - Political arm.
4. Policy Experts - Directory of individuals and organizations published by the Heritage Foundation.
5. Cato Institute - Conservative-Libertarian think tank.
6. Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace - Conservative think tank.
7. State Policy Network - Service organization for America's state-based, free market think tank movement.
8. Ethan Allen Institute - Vermont's independent, nonpartisan, free-market-oriented public policy think tank.
9. Reason Foundation (Los Angeles)
10. Liberty International (San Francisco)
11. Georgia Public Policy Foundation (Atlanta)
12. American Enterprise Institute (Washington DC)
13. James Madison Institute (Florida)
14. Hudson Institute (Indianapolis)
15. Heartland Institute (Illinois)
16. Mackinac Center for Public Policy (Michigan)
17. Montreal Economic Institute (Montreal, Canada)
18. Atlas Network (Fairfax, VA)
19. Center for Education Reform (Washington DC)
20. Competitive Enterprise Institute (Washington DC)
21. Institute for Justice (Washington DC)
22. Institute for Humane Studies - Support scholars on liberty topics.
23. Goldwater Institute (Arizona)
24. National Legal Center for the Public Interest - Publications on various topics.
25. Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute - Focus on women's issues from a more conservative position.
26. National Center for Policy Analysis - A think tank. See especially the article"Nationalizing Crime".
27. Potomac Institute for Policy Studies - Focus on defense acquisition reform, dual use technology, space commercialization, and threats from terrorism.
28. Claremont Institute - Seeks to restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life.
29. Center for Public Integrity - Does investigative reports on the influence of money on the political process.
30. Ludwig von Mises Institute - Supports a free-market, private-property order, and opposes government power as economically and morally destructive.
31. Foundation for Economic Education - Promotes the principles of sound economics, including individual freedom, private property, limited government and free trade.
32. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research - A think tank whose mission is to develop and disseminate new ideas that foster greater economic choice and individual responsibility.
33. Freedom Fund - Promotes individual freedom, private property rights, free markets, and national sovereignty.

Focus on Voting, Elections and Campaign Finance - Also see Electoral Process page.

Narrow-Focus Groups

1. National Inflation Association (NIA) - Opposes unsound fiscal and monetary policies.
2. Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR) - Opposes civil forfeiture statutes.
3. Help Abolish Legal Tyranny (HALT) - Seeks to reduce the influence of a corrupt legal profession.
4. Center for Judicial Accountability (CJA) - Seek reform of the for Judicial Accountability (CJA) - Seek reform of the judicial system.
5.  J.A.I.L. 4 Judges - One approach to holding judges accountable for their conduct..
6. The Liberty Alliance Project - Advancing an alternative to a national ID system to avoid identity theft but preserve liberty.
7. Alliance for the Separation of School and State - The solution for education is getting the government out of it.
8. We the People Foundation - Focus on unlawful income tax and IRS practices.
9. Constitutional Law Foundation - Seeks to advance the intergenerational concern for posterity stated in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.
10. ReclaimDemocracy - Seek democratic accountability for corporations.
11. Papers, Please! - Raise constitutional objections to "war on drugs".
12. November Coalition - Working to end drug war injustice.
13. Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking - Work to eliminate human slavery and trafficking of people.
14. Constitutional Patriots Opposing Prohibition - Oppose drug laws as ineffective, counterproductive, and at the federal level, unconstitutional.
15. Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) - For free speech, individual liberty, religious freedom, the rights of conscience, legal equality, due process, and academic freedom on our nation's campuses.
16. MoveOn.org - Online progressive activists, pro-Democrat.
17. People's Action - Some campaigning for honest elections.
18. Conflict Solutions International - Seek to resolve conflicts at the international level.
19. National Youth Rights Association (NYRA) - Advocates lessening and removing various legal restrictions that are imposed on young people but not adults.

Money Matters - Separate page for groups involving these.

Tax Matters - Separate page for groups involving these.

Umbrella Groups and Forums

1. Freedom Force International - Encourages freedom seekers to seek power in every power center of society.
2. Young Americans for Freedom - Unites youth in defense of the Constitution.
3. Free Republic - Umbrella group for many reform organizations.
4. Constitution Club - Umbrella network for constitutionalist study and action groups.

Directories of Advocacy Groups

1.  World Advocacy - Find groups with similar interests to your own.

Legal Associations

1. Federalist Society (FS)- Coalition of conservative and libertarian lawyers and legal scholars.
• Federalist Society 2008 National Convention - Videos of selected sessions.
2. American Constitution Society (ACS)- Formerly the Madison Society. Coalition of statist lawyers, in opposition to the Federalist Society.
3. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) - Involved in reform of the criminal justice system.
4. Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) - Defend rights of Texans.
5. American Judicature Society (AJS)- Works for independence and integrity of the courts.
6. American Judges Association (AJA) - Judges have their lobbying organization, too.
7. Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) - Have regular conferences where judicial policy decisions are made.
8. American Bar Association (ABA), List of State Bar Associations - The Legal Establishment.
9. American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) - More about winning and making large fees than justice or ethics.
10. American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA)- Lobbying organization that supports legislation that benefits trial lawyers.
11. Idaho Trial Lawyer Association - Function as lobbying arms and sometimes counters to the State Bars.

Academic Associations

1. Benjamin Rush Society - Medical students with political concerns.
2. Alexander Hamilton Society - Students who seek vital, constructive debate on foreign, economic and national security policy.
3. Adam Smith Society - Business students with political concerns.

Congressional Caucuses

1. Liberty Committee - Nationwide grassroot organization centered on a caucus of members of Congress dedicated to seek a strict-constitutional approach to legislation.

Republican Movements - There are enough to justify their own page.

Separatist and Independence Movements - There are enough to justify their own page.

Freedom Movements - There are enough to justify their own page.

Political Parties

1. United States
   1. Libertarian Party - One of the more important parties emphasizing constitutional compliance.
      1. Libertarian Party of Texas
         1. Libertarian Party of Travis County (Austin)
         2. Libertarian Longhorns (University of Texas at Austin)
         3. Libertarian Party of Dallas County
   2. Constitution Party, formerly the U.S. Taxpayers Party - Focused on constitutional compliance.
   3. American Party - Advocates clean government and various socially conservative positions.
   4. Independent American Party - To promote respect for life, liberty and property; strong traditional families; patriotism; and individual, state and national sovereignty.
   5. Constitutional Party - Founded by James Markels.
   6. Natural Law Party - Seek to base public policy on scientific principles.
   7. Green Party - Devoted to protecting the ecosystem. International, with many national affiliates.
   8. Republican National Committee - Parent organization of the Republican Party.
      1. Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) - Libertarian-constitutionalist wing.
         1. Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas
         2. Republican Liberty Caucus of Massachusetts
      2. National Republican Senatorial Committee - Campaign resource for senatorial candidates.
      3. National Federation of Republican Assemblies - Grass roots, conservative wing, anti-abortion.
   9. Democratic National Committee - Parent organization of the Democratic Party.
      1. Democratic Freedom Caucus - Libertarian wing.
      2. Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) - "Defining the third way". Alter ego of the DLC.
      3. Progressive Challenge project of the Institute for Policy Studies - Strategic planning arm.
      4. Progressive Caucus - Statist wing of the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
      5. Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) - Seek patronage and paternal government.
      6. Social Democrats - Allied with similar parties across the world, and with the Democrat Party in the United States.

Non-partisan Policy Groups

1. American Conservative Union (ACU) - Rate members of Congress.
2. Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) - Rate members of Congress.
3. League of Conservation Voters (LCV) - Rate members of Congress.

Minority Rights

1. American Indian Movement - Organized to protect the rights of Native Americans. Was targeted by the FBI COINTELPRO program.
2. Native American Links - One collection, mostly to various organizations.
3. Native American Links - Another collection, including most the same links as the previous one, but it doesn't hurt to have another.
4. Spirits of the Land Foundation - Has a directory of National Indian Organizations.
5. Black Panther Party - No official home page yet, but until they do, Bobby Seale's Homepage will do.
6. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - One of the oldest.
7. League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) - Another of the older organizations.
8. Native American Rights Fund - provided legal assistance to Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide who might otherwise have gone without adequate representation
9. National Indian Justice Center

Defense Committees for Persecuted Individuals - Also see Abuses and Usurpations page.

1. The Case of Leonard Peltier - Native American activist convicted of a crime he didn't commit.

Privacy & Security

1. Electronic Privacy Information Center - Resist use of social security number as national identification number.
2. Public Citizen Litigation Group - Have recently defended anonymous speech.
3. Privacy Foundation - Seek to protect the right of privacy against government and corporate intrusion.

Computers & Internet

1. Center for Democracy and Technology - Active in defense of rights of Internet users and others.
2. Electronic Frontier Foundation - Defends Internet users against abuses by government. Has much valuable material on activism.
3. Free Software Foundation - Advocate open source.
4. Global Internet Liberty Campagn - International effort. Temporary site here.

Worldwide

1. Amnesty International - Defend rights of political prisoners and oppressed dissidents throughout the world.
2. Liberty International- Members in over 80 countries dedicated to building a free and peaceful world, respect for individual rights and liberties, and an open and competitive economic system based on voluntary exchange and free trade.
3. The Constitution Society - British organization focused on the traditional, unwritten constitution of the U.K.
4. One Nation - Australian reform party.
5. Global Exchange - Lead role in organizing protests against several world organizations that threaten human rights.
6. International Bundesbrief Association - To celebrate the Swiss Federal Charter of 1291.
   

Other Non-Profit Organizations

1. Lancasterian Society - Support private schools using the Lancasterian Monitorial System, a method that uses more advanced students to teach less advanced students, and teach each at his or her own best rate.
2. The Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - It once appeared that they were dominated by people with enough integrity to quit, indicated by the list of FBI Books they had, which was similar to the US Intelligence Agency FBI Books list. But they sent an email message saying they were "loyal" to their former organization, and took the page down. No mention about being loyal to the Constitution.

Survival

1. Greenpeace International (Amsterdam) - An eco-militia.
2. League of Conservation Voters - Try to defeat legislative abusers of our environment and resources.

Heritage Groups

1. National Society Sons of the American Revolution - Descendents of those involved in the Revolution.
2. National Society Daughters of the American Revolution - Descendents of those involved in the Revolution.
3. Sons of the Revolution - Second oldest Revolutionary War hereditary group in the United States.
4. Friends of Montpelier - Home of James Madison, now a museum.
5. Acton Institute - Dedicated to the study religion and liberty, with a focus on the thought of Lord Acton (1834-1902), famous for the 1887 quote: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
6. American Antiquarian Society (AAS) - Repository of documents from early America.
7. Society of American Archivists (SAA) - Association for preservation of original documents.

Property and Privacy Rights - We have a separate subsite for this large topic.