Key Facts
Key Information
About
Citizens for Self-Governance (CSG) is a conservative American nonprofit political organization operating as a 501(c)(4) entity, dedicated to promoting limited government, fiscal responsibility, and constitutional principles through grassroots activism and advocacy. Founded to empower citizens in reclaiming self-governance, CSG focuses on reducing the size and scope of the federal government, enhancing state sovereignty, and enforcing term limits on federal officials. The organization has built a network of advisors and partners, including notable conservative figures like Jim DeMint, to advance its mission of restoring the original intent of the U.S. Constitution.
In 2015, CSG launched a major nationwide initiative called Convention of States, aimed at calling for a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction over states, and set term limits for Congress and federal officials. As of 2025, resolutions supporting this effort have passed in 19 states, requiring 34 states total to trigger the convention. CSG's grassroots campaigns involve educating and mobilizing citizens, legislators, and local leaders to pass these resolutions, emphasizing self-governance as a bulwark against federal overreach.
Beyond its constitutional amendment push, CSG has been involved in legal actions to protect conservative organizations, notably funding and winning a class action lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service in 2017 for the agency's alleged targeting of Tea Party and similar groups through improper scrutiny of their tax-exempt applications. This victory highlighted CSG's commitment to defending First Amendment rights and combating perceived government bias against conservative viewpoints. The organization continues to produce educational resources, host events, and collaborate with allied groups to foster a culture of limited government and individual liberty.