American Majority

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American Majority is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Purcellville, Virginia (U.S. state)|Virginia, that provides candidate and activist training for persons who identify as ideological conservatives. Under the Internal Revenue Code, 501(c)(3) allows contributions to it to be tax-deductible, but generally forbids political activity to influence legislation or the election of candidates ^[1]; a delicate line clearly exists. Founded in January, 2008. American Majority has additional offices in Kansas (U.S. state)|Kansas, Louisiana (U.S. state)|Louisiana, Minnesota (U.S. state)|Minnesota, and Oklahoma (U.S. state)|Oklahoma. The organization is currently led by Ned Ryun, who serves as president. It is not to be confused with a progressive or liberal Think tank|think tank founded by John Podesta originally called "American Majority Fund" and now called the Center for American Progress.

The organization states that its mission is:

Training and equipping a national network of conservative leadership committed to helping America remain a strong and free nation through limited government, individual freedom and the free market system.

They further state that their main objective is to “build a national network of leaders and grassroots advocates who aspire to increase freedom for individuals, families, the marketplace, and our nation.”^[2]

Its name, incorporating the word "majority", expresses a hoped-for goal as opposed to the actual demographics of the organization's support, following the lead of other non-associated groups such as the American Majority Fund or the Moral Majority.

Programs[edit]

American Majority has, either in existence or planning, several programs that support its mission as a political training institute:

Candidate Training Program[edit]

The organization trains candidates who are considering or seeking elected office. In one-day sessions, candidates and their staff members are trained on campaign basics including political fundraising, grassroots organizing, and new media.^[3]

Activist Training Program[edit]

American Majority hosts one-day events for training activists. In these events, attendees are trained how to organize coalitions and hold effective events, how to send Freedom of Information Act|Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to government bodies, interact with elected officials, become involved in new media, and volunteer for issue advocacy groups, think tanks, and political campaigns.^[4]

Campus Majority[edit]

The organization has created Campus Majority, which is to partner with American Majority to provide training on college campuses.^[5] The program, which held its first training in February, is intended to train activists in presenting the ideologies supported by American Majority.

States[edit]

Along with the Purcellville, Virginia national office, American Majority has offices in the following states:

• Kansas (Topeka, Kansas|Topeka), opened April 2008
• Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge), opened April 2008
• Minnesota (St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul), opened March 2008
• Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma|Oklahoma City), opened April 2008

State offices opening in 2009:

• Texas- March
• Illinois (projected)
• Arkansas (projected)

References[edit]