Center for Individual Rights
| Abbreviation | CIR |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1988 |
| Founder | Michael McDonald and Michael Greve |
| Type | Public interest law firm |
| 52-1600481 | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Purpose | To provide representation on issues of significant public interest |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 38°54′23″N 77°02′40″W / 38.9065°N 77.0445°W |
Region | United States |
| Methods | Litigating and publicizing individual cases |
President | Todd F. Gaziano |
| |
| Revenue | $2,280,370 (2015) |
| Expenses | $2,139,103 (2015) |
| Website | www |
The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) is a non-profit public interest law firm in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm is "dedicated to the defense of individual liberties against the increasingly aggressive and unchecked authority of federal and state governments". The Center is officially nonpartisan. Its work focuses on enforcement of constitutional limits on state and federal power, primarily through litigation.
CIR's primary focus for most of its existence has been challenges to what it regards as unconstitutional or unlawful preferences based on race, sex, or another identity group. It has represented members of many races but is best known for challenging affirmative action. Another major focus for CIR is free speech. It has represented individuals and groups, often in university environments, challenging attempts to interfere with speech deemed "politically incorrect". A third focus has been federalism, the attempt to prevent Congress from legislating beyond the powers provided to it in the Constitution.