Restoring Social Trust in Democracy
Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must take swift action to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.
What We're Working On
What We're Doing
Increasing representation and access to our democracy
All Americans must have trust in elections and election results. All Americans also must have unimpeded access to the ballot box. That is why national voting standards are so important, along with laws that would protect against interference with valid election results.
Combating the spread of harmful dis- and misinformation
Disinformation, whether about COVID-19 or elections, undermines Americans’ safety and threatens our democracy. We seek to define the government’s role in combating it, give recommendations to online platforms to stem its spread, and support robust local media that can counter its worst effects.
Building a new framework to regulate online services
Americans’ lives are increasingly reliant on online services and affected by their economic, consumer, and civic harms. A robust regulatory framework, paired with new privacy protections and reinvigorated antitrust action, is needed to address the threats these services pose.
Countering violent political extremism
Countering insurgent threats is critical to maintaining our democracy. As part of this work, we have crafted a national blueprint with the McCain Institute to end white supremacist violence. Our plan draws on expertise across CAP and from more than 150 conversations with a diverse range of stakeholders.
By the numbers
59
Gerrymandering shifted an average of 59 seats in the U.S. House from 2012 to 2016.
Source: CAP, “Voter-Determined Districts” (2019).
1 in 10
42 senators, representing only about 1/10 of the U.S. population, can filibuster popular bills.
Source: CAP, “The Impact of the Filibuster on Federal Policymaking” (2019).
30%
The U.S. population has grown by about 30% since the federal bench’s last meaningful expansion.
Source: CAP, “It Is Past Time for Congress To Expand the Lower Courts” (2021).
81%
81% of voters believe tech companies have too much power and influence over politics and government.
Source: CAP Action, “Voters Support Enacting Stronger Consumer Protections Online” (2021).
What You Can Do
Recent work
Advocates Demand Congressional Action on Climate Change After the U.S. Supreme Court Limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s Power
January 6 Hearing Day 6: Who Is Cassidy Hutchinson?
Latest
January 6 Hearing Day 6: Who Is Cassidy Hutchinson?
Providing new details about the January 6 insurrection, Cassidy Hutchinson testified how Donald Trump tried to hang onto his power by any means necessary.
January 6 Hearing Day 5: Here’s What Happened
Donald Trump and MAGA extremists came dangerously close to weaponizing the U.S. Department of Justice in their desperate attempt to overturn the election.
January 6 Hearing Day 4: Here’s What Happened
Donald Trump and MAGA extremists are still attacking elections. If they are not held accountable, the United States cannot preserve democracy.
January 6 Hearing Day 3: How Donald Trump Turned the Mob on Mike Pence
When Mike Pence made it clear he would not give in to Donald Trump's scheme, Trump turned the mob on him.
January 6 Hearing Day 1: January 6 Was a Coordinated Attack
Center for American Progress expert William J. Roberts explains the weight of the bipartisan January 6 hearings.
January 6 Hearing Day 1: Here’s What Happened
Carnage. Chaos. Crime. January 6 was not a random event; it was a coordinated, deliberate conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election.
How Americans Can Fight Back Against a Radical Supreme Court Majority
Responding to the judicial overreach of a radical Supreme Court majority will require long-term structural reforms to the courts and immediate action to mitigate the harms caused by their wrongly decided decisions.
Weak Gun Laws Are Hurting Police Officers
Gun violence against police officers is a major problem in the United States, but elected officials are still adopting counterproductive measures opposed by law enforcement agencies.
Hearings reveal Trump’s vast plan to overturn Americans’ votes
William Roberts and Michael Sozan outline the evidence presented in the January 6 House Select Committee hearings and argue for stronger protections of voting rights.
Celebrating 10 Years of DACA
Over the past decade, DACA has delivered lasting protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants pursuing the American dream.