Public Citizen

Infobox NPO
organization_name = Public Citizen
organization_
organization_motto = Protecting Health, Safety and Democracy
organization_type = Non-profit, Interest group
founded = 1971 by Ralph Nader and Alan Morrison in the US
location = Main headquarters in Washington D.C.
key_people = Ralph Nader
fields = Protecting Health, Safety and Democracy
services = Media attention, direct-appeal campaigns, research, lobbying
num_members =
homepage = http://www.citizen.org

Public Citizen is a Washington, D.C.-based public interest group engaged in consumer advocacy, government accountability, clean democracy and ethical government, access to the courts, global trade, and regulatory and science policy.

Founded in 1971 by Ralph Nader and Alan Morrison,Staff report (June 2, 1971). Nader Forums Unit To Seek Donations. "New York Times"] Alan B. Morrison: Senior Lecturer in Law. "Stanford Law School"] its activities span across a diverse range of issues, including energy policy, trade policy, campaign finance reform and accountability, consumer protection, medical malpractice, and public health.

The organization represents consumer interests in the United States Congress, the executive branch and the courts, fighting for openness and democratic accountability in government; for the right of consumers to seek justice in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care.

Nader resigned as president of Public Citizen in 1980.United Press International (November 2, 1980). Nader Resigns as Chief Of Public Citizen Inc. "New York Times"] The organization currently is headed by Joan Claybrook, who was head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the Carter administration, 1977 to 1981.

The organization is divided into six divisions: the Energy Program, Global Trade Watch, Congress Watch, the Public Citizen Litigation Group, the Health Research Group, and Auto Safety. Since 1984, they have also had a Texas office. Public Citizen's Texas State Office has concerned itself with environmental enforcement policies, global warming, promoting renewable/clean energy, product safety, nuclear safety, medical safety, auto safety/quality, pesticide safety, insurance reforms, campaign finance/ethics issues, improving state government agency operations and fair trade policies.

Disassociation from Nader

In the aftermath of Nader's role in the 2000 presidential election, Public Citizen has disassocicated itself from its founder. Wrote "Mother Jones", "For evidence of how rank-and-file liberals have turned against Nader, one need look no further than the empire he created. Public Citizen, the organization (Nader) founded in 1971, has a new fundraising problem—its founder. After the election, contributions dropped... When people inquire about Nader's relationship to the organization, Public Citizen sends out a letter that begins with a disclaimer: 'Although Ralph Nader was our founder, he has not held an official position in the organization since 1980 and does not serve on the board. Public Citizen—and the other groups that Mr. Nader founded–act independently.'" [Margolis, John (July/August 2001) [http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2001/07/nader.html Nader Unrepentant] . "Mother Jones".]

ee also

* Public Citizen Litigation Group
* Consumer Project on Technology
* Global Trade Watch
* Food & Water Watch
* Anti-nuclear movement in the United States

References

External links

* [http://www.citizen.org/ The Public Citizen Website]
** [http://www.energyactivist.org Energy Program]
** [http://www.cleanupwashington.org/ Clean Up Washington]
** [http://www.citizen.org/litigation Litigation Group]
** [http://www.citizen.org/autosafety Auto and Highway Safety Program]
** [http://www.citizen.org/regs Regulatory and Science Policy Project]
** [http://www.lobbyinginfo.org/ Lobbying Info]
** [http://www.stealthpacs.org/ Stealth Pacs]
** [http://www.worstpills.org/ Worst Pills]
** [http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ White House for Sale]
** [http://www.tradewatch.org/ Global Trade Watch]
** [http://www2.citizen.org/hrg/medicaid/?CFID=2859090&CFTOKEN=60099810 Ranking of state Medicaid programs by eligibility, scope of services, quality of service and reimbursement]
* [http://www.citizen.org/texas/ The Public Citizen Texas Office Website]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/_texas_advoc/index.cfm Citizen Advocacy]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/cleanpolitic/ Clean Up the Capitol]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/cons_protect/ Consumer Protection & Product Safety]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/diesel/ Diesel Emissions]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/Dereg/ Energy, Efficiency & Renewables]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/EnvProt/ Environmental Protection]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/global%5Fwarmi/ Global Warming]
** [http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/nuclear_power_plants/ Nuclear Energy]
** [http://www.citizen.org/texas/transpor/ Transportation]
* [http://www.law.stanford.edu/directory/profile/47/ Alan B. Morrison: Senior Lecturer in Law]
* [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/5425.htm Charity Navigator Rating of Public Citizen Foundation]