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. 

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.

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Recent work

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. 

Latest

Compact View

Citizens United Gave Corporations, But Not Their Boards, the Authority To Spend in Candidate Elections Report
U.S. Supreme Court

Citizens United Gave Corporations, But Not Their Boards, the Authority To Spend in Candidate Elections

Since 2010, corporate boards and management have been handing over the constitutional rights of individual U.S.-citizen shareholders to large shareholders and foreign nationals; shareholders can put a stop to this, and lawmakers, regulators, and courts can help them.

The Protection of Voting Rights Requires State Action Report
Photo shows a red sign with blue text that reads

The Protection of Voting Rights Requires State Action

As legislation on voting rights awaits action in Congress—and states continue to pass restrictive, discriminatory voting policies and the courts strip federal voter protections—states must step up and protect the right to vote.

Rebecca Mears

2024 Hawaii Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations Testimony

2024 Hawaii Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Hawaii Senate in support of S.B. 3243, a bill that would strengthen campaign-related spending disclosure requirements and limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

Michael Sozan

2024 Washington Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations Testimony

2024 Washington Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Washington State House in support of H.B. 1885, a bill that would strengthen campaign-related spending disclosure requirements and limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

Michael Sozan

Extinguishing the Fires of Political Violence Past Event

Extinguishing the Fires of Political Violence

A Bipartisan Discussion About Current Threats and Potential Solutions, cosponsored by the McCain Institute

2023 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event
CAP IDEAS Conference logo

2023 CAP IDEAS Conference

Join the Center for American Progress as we celebrate 20 years of innovative policy solutions and look boldly forward to a progressive future.

The CHIPS and Science Act Will Bring Technology and Manufacturing Investment to Rural Areas and Communities of Color Report
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with students during a during a visit to Hampton University.

The CHIPS and Science Act Will Bring Technology and Manufacturing Investment to Rural Areas and Communities of Color

The Tech Hubs program within the CHIPS and Science Act is a major opportunity to provide equitable access to industry for underserved communities and economic growth for the country at large.

Ashleigh Maciolek, Justine Gluck, Sara Partridge, 1 More Sydney Bryant

CAP Comment Urges CFTC To Reject Proposal To Allow Betting on Elections Article

CAP Comment Urges CFTC To Reject Proposal To Allow Betting on Elections

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission opposing KalshiEX LLC's proposed congressional control event contracts, arguing that Kalshi's proposal amounts to allowing gambling on U.S. elections and is squarely against the public interest.

Sydney Bryant

How Michigan Became a Blueprint for Strengthening Democracy Report
Close-up of hand casting vote

How Michigan Became a Blueprint for Strengthening Democracy

Despite an increasingly partisan national landscape, Michigan has implemented key voting and representation reforms and set a trailblazing example for transformative change, largely due to citizen-initiated constitutional amendments.

Greta Bedekovics, Ashleigh Maciolek

Revelations About Justice Clarence Thomas Reinforce the Need for Justices to Be Bound by an Ethics Code Article
The Supreme Court of the United States.

Revelations About Justice Clarence Thomas Reinforce the Need for Justices to Be Bound by an Ethics Code

Media reports that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted lavish yacht trips and private jet rides without publicly disclosing them underscore the urgent need for Supreme Court justices to be bound by a binding code of ethics just like other federal judges and members of Congress.

Ben Olinsky, Maggie Jo Buchanan, William Roberts

Washington Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations Testimony

Washington Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Washington State House in support of S.B. 5284, a bill that would strengthen campaign-related spending disclosure requirements and limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

Michael Sozan

It’s Time To Talk About Electoral Reform Report
People vote at East High School in Denver.

It’s Time To Talk About Electoral Reform

To fix the dysfunction in American politics, reformers should consider fundamental changes to the electoral rules.

Alex Tausanovitch

Minnesota Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations Testimony

Minnesota Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Minnesota House of Representatives’ Committee on Elections Finance and Policy in support of H.F. 117, a bill to stop political spending by foreign-influenced U.S. corporations.

Michael Sozan

U.S. Election Funding: 5 Myths Debunked Report
Person standing at voting station

U.S. Election Funding: 5 Myths Debunked

Here are the reasons why state spending of federal election funding is significant, why some states are not spending it as quickly as some policymakers want, and why Congress must continue to invest in funding federal elections.

Greta Bedekovics

Finding Common Ground to Address Threats to Our Elections Past Event

Finding Common Ground to Address Threats to Our Elections

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event that will assess the current threats to our elections, analyze what state officials are doing to address the issues, and explore how Americans can come together to safeguard our democracy.

Protecting Election Workers and Officials From Threats and Harassment During the Midterms Article
Election workers validate ballots in Georgia.

Protecting Election Workers and Officials From Threats and Harassment During the Midterms

As the 2022 general election gets underway, it’s critical that those on the front lines of our democracy—election workers and officials—are able to safely and effectively do their jobs to ensure that voters can cast ballots and that elections are freely and fairly administered.

Greta Bedekovics

Poll Workers Are Indispensable to the November Election Article
Poll workers assist a voter in casting a ballot in Washington, D.C.

Poll Workers Are Indispensable to the November Election

An estimated 1 million poll workers, who will voluntarily help administer this year’s election, are essential to strengthening our democracy and preserving the hallowed right to vote.

Michael Sozan

A Conversation With Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Past Event

A Conversation With Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall

Discussing Air Force and Space Force personnel, the crisis in Ukraine, competition with China, human rights, and the role of the U.S. in the world

Electoral Count Act Reform Is Now Within Reach Article
The sun rises over the U.S. Capitol.

Electoral Count Act Reform Is Now Within Reach

With the latest version of the Electoral Count Reform Act, the Senate just a took a critical step toward preventing another insurrection.

Alex Tausanovitch

National Film Premiere: ‘Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote’ Past Event

National Film Premiere: ‘Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote’

Please join CAP's Reel Progress program and Brave New Films for a film screening of "Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote," followed by a discussion with a panel of esteemed experts.

The Collins-Manchin Bill Is a Good Deal for Democracy Article
U.S. Capitol exterior as moon is still visible in sky

The Collins-Manchin Bill Is a Good Deal for Democracy

The new Senate proposal to reform the Electoral Count Act would help prevent the overthrow of a presidential election.

Alex Tausanovitch

Fixing Our Broken Courts Past Event

Fixing Our Broken Courts

Join CAP and the Brennan Center for Justice a discussion on opportunities for structural reform of the Supreme Court and the courts more generally.

Extremist US Politicians Are Aiding and Abetting Autocratic Hungarian Regime Article
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrives at the special EU summit in Brussels.

Extremist US Politicians Are Aiding and Abetting Autocratic Hungarian Regime

The extreme right brazenly supports Hungarian efforts to impede U.S. and European Union allied interests, subverting policies that would ensure corporations pay their fair share and sanction Russia for its Ukraine invasion.

Seth Hanlon, Mara Rudman

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