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


Independent Ethics Commission

Campaign

Independent Ethics Commission

Rhode Island has one of the strongest Ethics Commissions in the United States—but there's still work to do to improve our Code of Ethics.

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

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Don’t Rush the Rules!

Blog Post

Don’t Rush the Rules!

After every election, the Rhode Island House and Senate set their rules. Those rules determine everything from when a bill can be introduced, to how a legislator can cast their vote. Over the course of decades in the House of Representatives, those rules have been used to consolidate power in the hands of the Speaker.

Press

Common Cause Rhode Island Statement Responding to Gov. McKee

Press Release

Common Cause Rhode Island Statement Responding to Gov. McKee


“Common Cause Rhode Island doesn’t need anyone’s permission to hold power accountable. We continue to review the material produced by the State Police and the Attorney General and will decide in the coming days whether to file a complaint with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission."

Commission Appointed to Prep for Potential Constitutional Convention

News Clip

Commission Appointed to Prep for Potential Constitutional Convention

The commission for the proposed RI Constitution Convention included 4 spots for the public - all filled by former elected officials or State House staffers. The rest of the commission is made up of Democrats and Republicans from both the House and the Senate.

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