Center for American Progress

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Structural Reform and Governance

Democracy Policy

The Democracy Policy team is advancing an agenda to win structural reforms that strengthen the U.S. system and give everyone an equal voice in the democratic process.

Protestors raise their fists during a rally on the National Mall before the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., April 2006. (Getty/Mandel NGAN/AFP)

What we're doing

Safeguarding democracy by enacting bold structural reforms

To build a multiracial representative democracy, we need bold structural reforms that expand participation. We are leading policy analysis and research, communications, and advocacy to pass voting rights and democracy reform legislation in Congress to help defend democracy from the serious threats it faces.

Combating democratic decay and disinformation

We are leading cross-institutional work to combat the erosion of trust in government and in our elections—spread in part by the big lie about the 2020 election and a broader strategy by conservatives employed for decades. 

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Featured Experts

Partners & Coalitions

We are part of the 200+-organization Declaration for American Democracy coalition, the largest coalition of progressive groups assembled to fight for democracy reform—including intersectional advocacy, membership, and policy groups. 

Recent work

Latest

The Women’s Leadership Gap Fact Sheet
Democratic congresswomen-elect pose for a group photo on the East Front Plaza of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., November 14, 2018. (Getty/Mandel Ngan/AFP)

The Women’s Leadership Gap

Using new data, this fact sheet update shows that despite making up a majority of the U.S. population, women lag substantially behind men when it comes to their representation in leadership positions.

Judith Warner, Nora Ellmann, Diana Boesch

Ban Lobbyists from Fundraising for Politicians Fact Sheet
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 21: A reflection of the US Capitol Building dome is seen as the sun sets after a Spring snow fall on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Ban Lobbyists from Fundraising for Politicians

To reduce the undue influence of big money in politics, Congress and state legislators should ban lobbyists from fundraising for candidates for public office.

Voter Purges Prevent Eligible Americans from Voting Fact Sheet
A sign directing voters to the polling center is seen on a wall in Eastern Market as the sun rises on the 2016 presidential election in Washington, November 8, 2016. (Getty/Anadolu Agency, Samuel Corum)

Voter Purges Prevent Eligible Americans from Voting

Voter purges silence Americans at the ballot box, and Ohio’s voter purge case will have important repercussions on the future of voting rights.

Danielle Root, Liz Kennedy

Committee Contributions Ban Fact Sheet
One of the presidential limousines parked on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 2017. (AP/Susan Walsh)

Committee Contributions Ban

Congress should bar lawmakers from accepting contributions from interests in front of their committees.

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