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
5 Facts About Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s exemplary background reflects the Biden administration’s commitment to nominating exceptional judges at every level.
Fact Sheet: Advancing Equity
This fact sheet summarizes a recent Center for American Progress report on the Biden administration’s efforts to advance racial equity through the federal government.
Putin’s Quagmire: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Is a Strategic Disaster for the Kremlin
Russia is now engaged in a war it cannot win. No matter how events play out on the battlefield, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a strategic disaster for Russia.
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.
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.
The United States’ Federal Courts Are Critical in the Fight Against Climate Change
The judiciary and courts are critical in the fight against climate change, and environmental judges are essential to protecting the nation's future.
Advancing Equity: Review of the Biden Administration’s Efforts in Its First Year To Implement a Racial Equity Agenda
This report reviews the Biden administration’s key efforts and accomplishments to advance equity in its first year and outlines future policies needed to build a better and more dynamic nation that equitably respects the rights and meets the needs of all Americans.
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.
How To Save American Democracy
The threat to U.S. elections is real—here is how policymakers can address it.
Southeast Asia: The Next Frontier of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance
As the United States and South Korea expand their bilateral cooperation beyond Northeast Asia, here are some ideas on how they can chart a path forward in Southeast Asia.