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
San Jose Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations
An ordinance recommended by several of San Jose’s councilmembers would help protect the city’s elections and ballot measures by prohibiting American corporations with appreciable foreign ownership from spending political dollars.
California Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations
California’s A.B. 1819 legislation would take a big step toward protecting state elections and ballot initiatives by prohibiting American corporations with appreciable foreign ownership from spending political dollars.
Hawaii Bill, With Amendments, Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations
Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, provided testimony supporting S.B. 166, with amendments, which would prohibit foreign-influenced U.S. corporations from engaging in political spending in the state of Hawaii.
Massachusetts Bills Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced Corporations
Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, provided testimony supporting three Massachusetts structural reform bills that would prohibit political spending by foreign-influenced U.S. corporations.
Immigration Reform and the Rule of Law
Tom Jawetz, vice president for Immigration Policy at American Progress, testified before a field hearing on immigration reform and border security in Philadelphia on February 11, 2019.
Furthering the College and Career Readiness of the District of Columbia’s Students
CAP director of standards and accountability Laura Jimenez testified before the Council of the District of Columbia on education reform.
Establishing a Research Collaborative in Support of District Schools and Students
Testimony Before Council Hearing on Bill 22-776: District of Columbia Education Research Advisory Board and Collaborative Establishment Amendment Act of 2018
Evidence Points to the Need for Discipline Reform in D.C. Schools
On January 30, 2018, the senior policy analyst for K-12 Education, Erin Roth, provided testimony before the D.C. Council in support of the goals of the Student Fair Access to School Act and the need for discipline reform.
Nevadans Can Take a Stand Against Conflicted Financial Advice
CAP Director of Consumer Finance Joe Valenti testified before the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce, Labor and Energy on conflicted financial advice.
Consumer Protection and Higher Education Financing Alternatives
Rohit Chopra, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, testified before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee.