Ethics & Accountability

Public officials should act in all of our interest, not to line their own pockets. Common Cause is fighting to ensure that all of our leaders are held to high ethical standards.

From city councils to the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court, the people making decisions that affect our lives and our families need to be held to the highest ethical standards. Common Cause works to ensure that those empowered to act on everyone’s behalf disclose their personal finances, uphold the rule of law, and cannot turn their public service into a personal profit scheme.

What We’re Doing


New York Judicial Integrity

New York Judicial Integrity

We're empowering New Yorkers with essential knowledge about our justice system, and working to protect the integrity and independence of our courts.
Framework for Ethics Reform in New York

Framework for Ethics Reform in New York

Our democracy depends on clear guidelines provided by laws fairly and reliably enforced that are meant to protect it—and us.
Clean Contracting in New York

Clean Contracting in New York

We must hold politicians accountable to strong ethical standards, so they serve the people instead of partisan or wealthy special interests.

Take Action


Stop Elon Musk’s Coup

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Stop Elon Musk’s Coup

Elon Musk wants to strip our democracy for scraps and sell what's left to the highest bidder. We won’t let him. We won’t bend to kings, oligarchs, or unelected CEOs.

Call your Congressmember today and ask them what they're doing to stop Elon Musk's coup.
Tell Governor Hochul: Keep Our Communities Together

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Tell Governor Hochul: Keep Our Communities Together

Just days into his presidency, Trump is already making good on his plans to carry out mass deportation raids targeting immigrant families across the country, including right here in New York.

This is cruel. It's wrong. Yet, Governor Hochul’s office announced intentions to cooperate with federal officials to detain and deport some immigrants.

The governor must step up to protect our communities – not cave and cower to the federal government’s attempts to mass criminalize immigrants and tear us apart.
Join our network of New Yorkers for American Values

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Join our network of New Yorkers for American Values

The years to come under the Trump administration will be fraught, but we don’t have to – and cannot – brave them alone. The way to gather strength is to gather with others – reaffirming our shared values in community.

That’s why we’re starting a new program – New Yorkers for American Values – to build a support system throughout the state of like-minded individuals who value a functioning representative democracy.

Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.

Donate

Related Resources

See all Related Resources

Testimony

Ethics Oversight is Broken

Press

Elected officials, Common Cause/NY Rally in Support of Santos Inspired Campaign Bill

Press Release

Elected officials, Common Cause/NY Rally in Support of Santos Inspired Campaign Bill

"Voters expect – at the very least – the people running to represent them are who they say they are. That's why Senator Liu and Assembly Member Sillitti's newly revised bill is important: it raises the accountability bar for candidates and makes it harder for candidates who lack integrity– like Mr. Santos – to defraud New York voters. We're hopeful lawmakers will pass this bill swiftly come January so no future candidate bamboozles the public again," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.

Common Cause/NY on Santos Expulsion: “Good!”

Press Release

Common Cause/NY on Santos Expulsion: “Good!”

"Today's decision to expel Mr. Santos is a win for voters and democracy. Mr. Santos' deception and likely violation of federal law has been clear for a long time. Voters did not deserve a representative that lied and defrauded his way into Congress. The House Ethics Committee's diligent bi-partisan report made crystal clear that Mr. Santos is plainly unfit to serve in public office any longer. We commend the New York delegation's overwhelming bi-partisan vote in favor of expelling Mr. Santos, and all other Representatives who voted to protect...

Common Cause/NY Statement on Additional Rep. Santos Indictment: He Still Must Resign

Press Release

Common Cause/NY Statement on Additional Rep. Santos Indictment: He Still Must Resign

"As we said after the Eastern District of New York appropriately indicted Mr. Santos in May: he must resign. It's been clear for a long time that the voters have been defrauded, and Mr. Santos' seat in Congress is tantamount to an ill gotten gain: he should not be allowed to profit from the fruits of his deception. Voters deserve a representative who doesn't lie and deceive their way into power, and unfortunately they have waited too long for Mr. Santos to do the right thing and resign."

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