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
Fact Sheet: Easing the American Nursing Shortage
2022 State Abortion Bans Are a Patchwork of Increasingly Extreme Laws
Tax Breaks for Retirement Savings Do Not Help the Workers Who Need Them Most
Latest
States’ anti-LGBTQI+ attacks underscore need for the Equality Act
Sharita Gruberg argues that the Senate must enact comprehensive nondiscrimination protections at the federal level amid an onslaught of anti-LGBTQI+ legislative attacks across the United States.
American Women Need to See the Full Paper Trail of Brett Kavanaugh
Author Shilpa Phadke discusses Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's troubling paper trail and its implications on the future of Roe v. Wade.
What’s left out of Ivanka’s view of working mothers: A world of diverse realities
Author Jocelyn Frye articulates the importance of inclusive policies that acknowledge working women and mothers from diverse backgrounds and create a level playing field in the workforce.
50 Years After the Voting Rights Act, Courts Play a Key Role in Protecting Access to the Ballot
Michele Jawando reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and how the judicial system has influenced voting.
Defense Cuts Won’t Hurt That Much
Lawrence J. Korb discusses why defense cuts aren't the end of the world, even though some politicians and lawmakers say they are.
Damage Control for Budget Act
No one in Washington seems to be particularly concerned about impending, automatic budget cuts in the Budget Control Act, write Jim Dyer and Scott Lilly.
Guest Voz: Three Ways the Ryan Budget Hits Latinos
Melissa Boteach outlines the ways the House Republican budget introduced last week will affect the Latino population.
Don’t Stop Thinking About the New Covenant
Andrei Cherny explains how Clinton's rethinking of progressive policy 20 years ago still contains lessons for today.
What Iraq Pullout Means to the Budget
Ending the war in Iraq is a major step toward putting the United States on a more sustainable fiscal path, write Lawrence J. Korb and Alex Rothman.
Open Letter to the Super Committee
To address the national debt and our faltering economy, the super committee must take the opportunity to reduce defense spending to more responsible levels, write Lawrence J. Korb and Alex Rothman.