Departments

Structural Reform and Governance

We work to ensure a more representative democracy that delivers results for all Americans through our government, courts, and in new digital town squares.

Volunteers help roll up a giant banner printed with the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution during a demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, October 2010, in Washington. (Getty/Chip Somodevilla)

What We're Doing

Encouraging professional diversity on the federal bench

Despite recent historic gains, professional diversity on the federal appellate courts is severely lacking, with significant implications for the legal expertise underlying judges’ decisions. Our analysis identifies policy proposals to improve the pipeline for judicial diversity.

Advancing voting rights and countering election sabotage

With states introducing hundreds of bills to disenfranchise voters, new federal election standards are vitally needed. Our research makes the case for these standards and shows how the Freedom to Vote Act would counter state laws seeking to suppress voter turnout and sabotage valid election results.

Addressing social media’s threat to our democracy

In the wake of widespread disinformation about the 2020 general election, social media companies must modify their products and policies to mitigate threats to democratic legitimacy and public safety. We identify concrete steps that could help address health and election-related disinformation.

 

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Recent Work

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Montana’s Plan To Curb Election Spending In the News

Montana’s Plan To Curb Election Spending

Jon Tester explains how Montana is pursuing a plan to curb election spending without violating Citizens United.

The Progressive

Jon Tester

The Trump Administration’s Flawed List-Matching Practices Could Disenfranchise Voters and Undermine Confidence in U.S. Elections Article
Voters check in on the second day of early voting ahead of the midterm elections

The Trump Administration’s Flawed List-Matching Practices Could Disenfranchise Voters and Undermine Confidence in U.S. Elections

The Trump administration’s rushed—and likely illegal—push to confuse voters and convince election officials to purge the voter rolls oversteps its authority and risks disenfranchising eligible Americans ahead of the midterm elections.

Ben Hovland, Emma Hulbert

CAP’s Response to the FTC’s Proposed Enforcement Policy Statement on Personalized Pricing Article

CAP’s Response to the FTC’s Proposed Enforcement Policy Statement on Personalized Pricing

The Center for American Progress submitted comments in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed enforcement policy statement on personalized pricing, urging the commission to go beyond disclosure and establish stronger protections against harmful surveillance pricing.

Boots Off Ballots: The Law In the News

Boots Off Ballots: The Law

In an op-ed published by Just Security, Dan Herman and Devon Ombres break down the current laws on military presence at polling sites as they apply to the federal military and the National Guard.

Just Security

Dan Herman, Devon Ombres

5 Ways the FTC Can Protect Americans From AI-Fueled Surveillance Pricing Report
Sign reading

5 Ways the FTC Can Protect Americans From AI-Fueled Surveillance Pricing

As artificial intelligence makes surveillance pricing more intrusive, unfair, and opaque, the Federal Trade Commission should go beyond disclosure by limiting the harmful ways businesses can use personal data and giving consumers meaningful control over how their information is used to set prices.

Down to the Roots: Building Rural Policy Around Rural Needs Past Event
A man walks through a field of soybeans at sunset.

Down to the Roots: Building Rural Policy Around Rural Needs

This event will explore what it means to invest in rural communities on their own terms and build a rural policy agenda rooted in resilience, opportunity, and shared prosperity.

Center for American Progress and online via Zoom

Protecting the 2026 Midterm Elections: The Role of Key State Officials Past Event
Election workers process ballots at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center in the state’s primary election on June 2, 2026. (Getty/Mario Tama)

Protecting the 2026 Midterm Elections: The Role of Key State Officials

The Center for American Progress is hosting a discussion with state officials about their critical work to ensure Americans can cast their ballots in November.

Center for American Progress and online via Zoom

The Trump Administration’s Plan To Politicize Federal Grants Would Harm American Health and Innovation Report
A researcher works in a kinesiology and nutrition lab.

The Trump Administration’s Plan To Politicize Federal Grants Would Harm American Health and Innovation

A new proposed rule from the Trump administration would subject all federally funded grants and research to politically motivated decision-making, as well as violate the laws governing agency rulemaking and the constitutional rights of Americans.

The Trump Administration May Be Planning To Unlawfully Order Federal Troops or Agents To Interfere in the Midterm Elections Video

The Trump Administration May Be Planning To Unlawfully Order Federal Troops or Agents To Interfere in the Midterm Elections

The Trump administration may be planning to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or troops into polling places, a well-known tactic of authoritarian-minded leaders around the world. But people across the ideological spectrum should not give in to fear and should exercise their right to vote.

Islamophobia Betrays American Values Article
Worshippers with folded arms and bowed heads stand shoulder to shoulder on prayer rugs laid over the ground.

Islamophobia Betrays American Values

Events between America’s founding and the 25th anniversary of 9/11—and actions still occurring today—illustrate both the promise of, and the threat to, religious freedom.

5 Quick Steps To Protect Your Right To Vote Article
An orange

5 Quick Steps To Protect Your Right To Vote

As misinformation and confusion about election integrity continue to spread, citizens can work to strengthen American democracy by focusing on what matters most—that individuals are ready to vote.

Ben Hovland

Despite President Trump’s Claims of Foreign Election Interference, He Has No Legal Authority To Declare a National Emergency and Unilaterally Nationalize Elections Article

Despite President Trump’s Claims of Foreign Election Interference, He Has No Legal Authority To Declare a National Emergency and Unilaterally Nationalize Elections

The U.S. Constitution provides absolutely no basis for presidents to declare a national emergency to take control of elections and displace state rules.

The Trump Administration Is Weaponizing the U.S. Postal Service To Unconstitutionally Impair Voting by Mail Video

The Trump Administration Is Weaponizing the U.S. Postal Service To Unconstitutionally Impair Voting by Mail

Under a directive from President Donald Trump found unconstitutional by several federal judges, the U.S. Postal Service is preparing to implement a rule turning itself into an election enforcement agency.

Fact Sheet: The Trump Administration Is Interfering in the 2026 Midterm Elections To Entrench the Imperial Presidency Fact Sheet
A man votes in a primary election on August 11, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Fact Sheet: The Trump Administration Is Interfering in the 2026 Midterm Elections To Entrench the Imperial Presidency

Having seized unprecedented control over the federal government, the Trump administration is now effectuating a multipronged plan to subvert the 2026 midterm elections, cementing its power and policy agenda without accountability.

Michael Sozan

The Trump Administration Is Interfering in the 2026 Midterm Elections To Entrench the Imperial Presidency Report

The Trump Administration Is Interfering in the 2026 Midterm Elections To Entrench the Imperial Presidency

The Trump administration has seized unprecedented control over the federal government and is now executing a plan to subvert the 2026 midterm elections—determined to entrench its power and continue its policy agenda without accountability.

Michael Sozan, Ben Olinsky

American Law at 250: The Supreme Court and Democracy Past Event

American Law at 250: The Supreme Court and Democracy

Please join the Center for American Progress for a discussion of how the Supreme Court has transitioned into a blatantly political entity and what needs to be done to free it from political capture and reestablish it as a defender—not an enemy—of American democracy.

Online via Zoom

Government Insiders Must Be Prevented From Profiting on Prediction Markets at the Expense of National Security Report
Gannon Ken Van Dyke seen through window and behind tree

Government Insiders Must Be Prevented From Profiting on Prediction Markets at the Expense of National Security

Government employees’ use of insider information to profit on prediction markets raises both national security and ethical concerns, and there are several steps Congress and the president should take, including completely banning government employees’ use of prediction markets as a condition of employment.

In Defense of Hawaii’s Corporate Redefinition In the News

In Defense of Hawaii’s Corporate Redefinition

In a Letter to the Editor in The Wall Street Journal, Tom Moore defended Hawaii's bipartisan law that limits corporate spending power in politics.

The Wall Street Journal

Tom Moore

The SAVE Act May Be Stalled in Congress, But State Versions Are Being Advanced All Across the Country Report
Voters check in with poll workers before casting their ballots.

The SAVE Act May Be Stalled in Congress, But State Versions Are Being Advanced All Across the Country

Fourteen states now have SAVE Act-like laws on the books requiring Americans to provide proof of their citizenship, chiefly a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote or stay registered; more are following in their footsteps.

Gréta Bedekovics, Devon Ombres

Religious Liberty for Whom? Diverse Leaders Offer an Inclusive Vision Ahead of America 250 and the Trump Administration’s Report Past Event

Religious Liberty for Whom? Diverse Leaders Offer an Inclusive Vision Ahead of America 250 and the Trump Administration’s Report

Please join the Center for American Progress, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Interfaith Alliance, and the American Humanist Association in Washington, D.C., for the launch of our new report, "Religious Liberty For All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250."

Center for American Progress

Religious Liberty for All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250 Report
A group of faith leaders standing together. The person in front is holding a megaphone.

Religious Liberty for All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250

This report brings together diverse voices in an expression of solidarity against a backdrop of the Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission to share why religious freedom matters and to protect religious freedom for all.

American Humanist Association, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Interfaith Alliance, 1 More Center for American Progress

Paramount’s Anticompetitive Merger With Warner Bros. Is Fueled by Investments From Regimes With Deep Trump Ties Article
The yellow and blue WB logo on a beige water tower; an American flag is positioned beside but behind the tower.

Paramount’s Anticompetitive Merger With Warner Bros. Is Fueled by Investments From Regimes With Deep Trump Ties

Government regulators must block Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. for several reasons, including that foreign autocracies with deep financial entanglements with President Donald Trump and anti-democratic values—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar—could end up owning the combined corporation.

Not the time to cement North America’s fate In the News

Not the time to cement North America’s fate

In an op-ed published by El País, Dan Restrepo argues that Mexico, the United States, and Canada would be making a mistake if they extended the USMCA for 16 years.

El País

Dan Restrepo

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference

The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans.

Online via Zoom

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