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The Administration series (2 linear ft.; 1971-1984 and 1983-1998) consists of those records related to the internal operations and the outreach functions of the organization. The records are arranged alphabetically by type of material and by the group creating the records. The minutes of the Executive Committee and the Political Action Committee provide the best entry to the policy and decision-making processes of Common Cause in Michigan. The general correspondence and financial statements are also illuminating of the inner workings of the group. The Michigan newsletters and the press statements are quite informative and seem effective at communicating the leaders' message to the public at large.

The Office Reference series (11.5 linear ft.; 1973-1982 and 1975-1998) consists of two basic kinds of files. Those files for 1973-1982 were created in the course of short term research projects undertaken by Common Cause in Michigan. The most extensive and most interesting of these records detail the Michigan legislature's campaign financing, dealings with lobbyists, and stands on Common Cause issues. The 1973 legislative survey polls the legislators on their positions on open meetings, campaign financing, lobbying disclosure and conflicts of interest. The legislator reports of the next few years assessed legislators' voting records on Common Cause issues and their response to requests for disclosure of campaign financing. Both the survey and the reports attempted to document every Michigan legislator. The Political Action Committee research project of the late 1970s altered the focal point of inquiry, turning attention to the influence wielded by two lobbyists, Francis Coomes and James Karoub. These reference files have been shaped by and reflect the larger reform goals of Common Cause in Michigan. The files for 1975-1998 included, in addition to research project files, collected background information on issues of concern to Common Cause.