Democracy Policy

Leaders on the Right Must Unequivocally Condemn Antisemitism

Tucker Carlson’s interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes has divided the right, exposing a dangerous and complicated relationship with antisemitism.

Americans Continue To Build a Peaceful Mass Movement To Force Trump Administration Changes

The October “No Kings” protests show that sustained mass mobilization is a potent force, and as history reveals, peaceful protests by just 3.5 percent of a nation’s population at a peak moment can make it extremely difficult for the government to ignore peoples’ demands.

7 Policy Recommendations for Combating Antisemitism in the United States

The surge in antisemitism seen in America today threatens the Jewish community and the nation’s democracy as a whole, and it necessitates a nonpartisan, whole-of-society effort to eradicate hate.

Undoing Citizens United and Reining in Super PACs

Please join the Center for American Progress for the national debut of a bold new approach that rewrites the rules of money in politics, combining a revolutionary state strategy to make Citizens United irrelevant with a federal plan to rein in super PACs once and for all.

Trump’s “Compact” With Colleges Will Put University Presidents in Legal Jeopardy

The White House’s proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is unconstitutional, unlawful, and will put universities and their administrators at direct risk from a politicized Justice Department.

The Path Forward: Ideas Worth Fighting For

The ideas in the Path Forward series present a roadmap for policymakers who want to offer a compelling alternative to populist authoritarianism by addressing people’s problems with bold ideas.

Q&A on CAP’s Plan To Beat Citizens United

CAP Senior Fellow Tom Moore answers questions from TikTok users about how states can reclaim their authority to get corporations and dark money groups out of politics.

Introducing CAP’s Plan To Beat Citizens United

In this video, CAP Senior Fellow Tom Moore explains a bold new strategy for how states can use their longstanding authority over corporations to take corporate and dark money out of politics.

Securing American Democracy: A Conversation With Sen. Adam Schiff

Join the Center for American Progress for a conversation with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) as part of CAP’s “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward” series.

Does a Politically Directed Department of Justice Merit the Presumption of Regularity?

Federal courts should begin—and litigants should ask them—to take notice of rampant irregularity coming out of the Department of Justice.

Americans want dark money out of politics. We don’t have to wait for Supreme Court.

In an op-ed published by USA Today, Tom Moore lays out a legal strategy to undo Citizens United and clamp down on the flow of dark-money spending in U.S. politics.

The Corporate Power Reset That Makes Citizens United Irrelevant

By using their authority to define what corporations are—and what powers they hold—states can end the era of corporate and dark money in U.S. politics.

Undoing Citizens United and Reining In Super PACs

By resetting corporate powers and treating super PACs like every other PAC, Congress and the states can begin to undo the damage caused by Citizens United.

Trump Ordered Texas To Gerrymander 5 New Republican-Leaning Congressional Districts—This Is How Other States Can Fight Back

An agreement to set aside redistricting commissions is needed in order to level the playing field in this redistricting arms race.

President Trump’s Recent Actions in Washington, D.C., Are an Abuse of Power and Threaten Public Safety for All

Authorizing the deployment of National Guard troops and federalizing the local police force are dangerous political theatrics that threaten democracy nationwide.

State Voting Rights Acts: Capstone

This is the final video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

How Peaceful Protest by Just 3.5 Percent of Americans Could Force Major Policy Changes From the Trump Administration

History shows that when just 3.5 percent of a population—about 12 million Americans—engage in peaceful protest, their demands become nearly impossible to ignore. This is particularly relevant today, as Americans continue to defend due process and health care rights amid a rise in authoritarian policies.

Peaceful Protest by a Mere 3.5 Percent of Americans Can Force Positive Governmental Change

If just 3.5 percent of Americans—12 million people—mobilize to peacefully protest the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration, it would be virtually impossible for the government to ignore their demands.

State Voting Rights Acts: Voter Suppression

This is the sixth video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Mapping Federal Funding Cuts to U.S. Colleges and Universities

American science and innovation should not be subject to the political winds of the day. Find out how the Trump administration’s grant terminations are affecting your school, your community, and your future.

An Urgent Warning from Texas: A Conversation on Defending Democracy and Fighting Authoritarianism in the States

Join former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), Norm Eisen, and CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden for this crucial discussion.

Democracy on the Line: Global Lessons on Countering Authoritarianism

Join the Center for American Progress for a critical conversation on what it takes to defend democracy.

Media Companies Like Paramount Should Think Twice Before Settling With Trump

In an op-ed published by Talking Points Memo, Michael Sozan argues that CBS/Paramount's decision to settle with Donald Trump will have devastating consequences for the company.

10 Egregious Things You May Not Know About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Congressional Republicans’ radical budget and tax bill includes several less-known provisions that will increase costs, fuel the Trump administration’s overreach, and waste taxpayer dollars.

Crushing the Commonwealth: Virginians Share How the Trump Administration’s Policies Are Hurting Them, Their Livelihoods, and the Virginia Economy

Please join the Center for American Progress for the next in a series of virtual events highlighting the impact that DOGE's cuts are having on the lives of everyday Americans; this event will focus on the Trump administration's impacts on Virginia.

State Voting Rights Acts: Language Access

This is the fifth video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Democracy on the Line: Standing Up to the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Free Speech

Civil society is standing up to threats from the Trump administration.

Listening To Lead: A Conversation With Gov. Tim Walz

Join us for a conversation with Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as part of CAP’s “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward” series.

Democracy on the Line: How We Got Here and How To Stop an Authoritarian Takeover

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event on the significance of what is happening to American democracy and how we can prevent authoritarianism from taking root.

Trump’s Deployment of National Guard to Los Angeles Is a Dangerous Escalation That Will Inflame Tensions

The deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles is dangerous, unnecessary, and an abuse of power that puts communities and servicemembers at risk.

Trump’s Unconstitutional Actions Threaten Democracy

In an op-ed published by DC Journal, Michael Sozan argues that it’s up to the courts, Congress, and Americans to exercise their collective responsibility and ensure the president answers to the people.

Reconciliation Provision Would Let Executive Branch Dismantle Nonprofits Under Pretext of Fighting Terrorism

The House’s tax portion of the reconciliation bill would give unprecedented power to the executive branch and allow it to unilaterally designate nonprofits as “terrorist supporting organizations,” possibly silencing them overnight.

Pushing Back and Moving Forward: A Conversation With Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Join us for the second installment of CAP’s “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward” series.

The Trump Administration and the FCC Are Weakening Freedom of the Press and Hurting Americans

President Donald Trump and the Federal Communications Commission are taking unprecedented steps that weaken the media’s First Amendment rights and misuse the regulatory process, as seen in ongoing proceedings involving CBS.

State Voting Rights Acts: Preclearance

This is the fourth video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools: The Case That Could Help or Harm America’s Disabled Students

A pending U.S. Supreme Court case could make it much harder for students with disabilities to sue their schools for discrimination, potentially limiting access to schooling for millions of Americans.

Trump’s First 100 Days: Creating an Imperial Presidency That Harms Americans

President Donald Trump is smashing constitutional and legal guardrails to build an authoritarian presidency that cements his political power and ultimately harms Americans.

Trump’s Unlawful Removal of Independent Agency Leaders Threatens Hard-Won Protections

Join the Center for American Progress for a panel discussion about the vital role that independent agencies play in protecting Americans.

How Independent Federal Agencies Help Americans

Independent agencies protect Americans and their communities from bank failures, dangerous products, scams, transportation disasters, and everything in between.

The Positive Power of Three at the FEC: Project Ripcord

Tom Moore writes in Stetson Journal of Advocacy and the Law about the role of a plan at the U.S. Federal Election Commission known as "Project Ripcord" in enforcement of federal campaign-finance law.

State Voting Rights Acts: Voter Intimidation

This is the third video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Trump’s Executive Order on Elections Aims to Dictate How States Run Elections and Handpicks Which Citizens Can Vote

If enforced, the executive order would block tens of millions of eligible Americans from the ballot box and empower DOGE to review Americans’ voter registration status.

The SAVE Act: The Bill That Could Block Millions of Americans From Voting

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event to hear from, and ask questions of, CAP experts about their work on the SAVE Act, how the legislation would affect tens of millions of Americans, and what you can do to help prevent its passage.

Trial Court Appears Skeptical of Trump Interpretation of Humphrey’s Executor

The judge in Wilcox v. Trump seems sympathetic toward the NLRB board member in a case that could reshape independent agencies’ ability to protect Americans.

State Voting Rights Acts: Racial Vote Dilution

This is the second video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

The SAVE Act Could Keep Millions of Transgender Americans From Voting

Should this legislation pass, it would further discrimination against transgender people and could keep millions of voters out of the voting booth.

The SAVE Act Would Force Many Rural Americans To Drive Hours To Register To Vote

Under the SAVE Act, many rural Americans would be forced to drive hours and cross hundreds of miles to show documentation of citizenship, in person, in order to register to vote. Some would be forced to drive as many as eight hours and make interstate journeys.

Trump’s War on America Risks a Wave of Catastrophes

President Trump’s reckless dismantling of government agencies and safeguards exposes America to a wave of preventable disasters.

What Is Humphrey’s Executor and Why Should You Care About It?

The Supreme Court case Humphrey’s Executor v. United States properly insulates independent agencies from undue presidential influence as they help protect Americans’ health, safety, and prosperity.

The right of Coloradans to vote should be protected

In an op-ed published by Colorado Newsline, Rebecca Mears urges Colorado legislators to pass the pending state voting rights act in order to protect equitable voting access for all Coloradans and safeguard them from voting practices that lead to deeper racial disparities.

Highlights From ‘Winning the Fight for Voting Rights: State Voting Rights Acts’

The freedom to vote is under attack across the country, especially for Black voters and other voters of color. States can join the growing movement to protect the freedom to vote and remove barriers to the ballot box by enacting their own voting rights acts.

The SAVE Act: Overview and Facts

The SAVE Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship with documentation unavailable to millions and upend the way every American citizen registers to vote.

The SAVE Act Would Disenfranchise Millions of Citizens

The SAVE Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship with documentation unavailable to millions and upend the way every American citizen registers to vote.

La Ley SAVE: Resumen y Hechos

La Ley SAVE requeriría que todos los estadounidenses demuestren su ciudadanía con documentación que no está disponible para millones de ciudadanos y cambiaría la forma en que cada ciudadano estadounidense se registra para votar.

Introduction to State Voting Rights Acts

This is the first video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Winning the Fight for Voting Rights: State Voting Rights Acts

Please join the Legal Defense Fund and the Center for American Progress for this special virtual event to watch the first video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained" video series and a discussion about state voting rights acts.

Mears: Michigan must pass its voting rights act

In an op-ed published by The Detroit News, Rebecca Mears urges Michigan lawmakers to pass their State Voting Rights Act before their congressional session ends on Thursday.

The Freedom To Vote: The Power of Casting a Ballot

Stephanie Hicks’ story of re-enfranchisement in Alabama speaks to how the lives of more than 3 million disenfranchised Americans could be transformed.

Election Certification: What You Need To Know

It is unlawful for election officials to act outside the law to refuse to certify election results.

The Freedom To Vote: The Pride and Empowerment That Come With the Right To Vote

Ronald McKeithen’s story of re-enfranchisement in Alabama speaks to how the lives of more than 3 million disenfranchised Americans could be transformed.

How Alabama Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Alabamians for the 2024 election.

The Freedom to Vote: How Re-enfranchisement Would Strengthen Democracy

Timothy Lanier’s story of disenfranchisement in Alabama speaks to the reality of the more than 3 million Americans who are denied their right to vote.

How the Freedom to Vote Act Could Have Changed the 2024 Election

In an op-ed published by Democracy Docket, Greta Bedekovics illustrates how significantly the Freedom to Vote Act could have changed this year’s elections for the better if it had not been blocked by the filibuster in 2022.

How West Virginia Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for thousands of West Virginians for the 2024 election.

How North Carolina Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of North Carolinians for the 2024 election.

How Delaware Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Delawareans for the 2024 election.

How Kentucky Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Kentuckians for the 2024 election.

How the Biden-Harris Administration Is Ensuring Voting Accessibility

Disabled voters face significant barriers to voting, which the Biden-Harris administration has taken significant action to address.

How Wisconsin Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Wisconsinites for the 2024 election.

How Florida Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Floridians for the 2024 election.

Counterpoint: Supreme Court Is Headed Further Right Next Term

Devon Ombres writes in "DC Journal" about the future of the U.S. Supreme Court.

How Ohio Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Ohioans for the 2024 election.

How Texas Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Texans for the 2024 election.

Project 2025 Would Destroy the U.S. System of Checks and Balances and Create an Imperial Presidency

Far-right extremists have a plan to shatter democracy’s guardrails, giving presidents almost unlimited power to implement policies that will hurt everyday Americans and strip them of fundamental rights.

Pass the Freedom to Vote Act: How Elections Would Look Different This Year and in the Future

Key voting rights legislation that Congress has been working to pass for years would have transformed election administration and security across the country ahead of the 2024 election cycle and guaranteed all Americans easy access to the ballot box.

A Roadmap To Ensure All Americans Are Effectively Represented by Their Government

A commonsense and bold set of reforms can build a strong democracy for the 21st century and a government that is responsive to everyday people.

Democracies Deliver Better Economic Opportunities, Rights, and Health for Their People

7 Reasons Americans Should Care About Their Democracy

Core shared values are foundational to a strong American democracy that reflects the will of the people.

Government Is Failing Many Americans, But Rejecting Democracy Is Not the Answer

The solution to an unresponsive democracy is not replacing it with autocracy, but instead building a stronger system answerable to the people.

An American Democracy Built for the People: Why Democracy Matters and How To Make It Work for the 21st Century

Although democracy is failing to meet the needs of many Americans, it is far preferable to an autocratic system, and it can be modernized with a compelling set of reforms.

Reforming Elections for a Better Democracy: Alaska as a Case Study

This video about Alaska’s “Final Four” election system brings together Alaskan legislative leaders from across the aisle to discuss how this system works and early results indicating this reform can create a more representative democracy, decrease polarization, and help incentivize consensus building and more bipartisan governing.

Gen Z Voters Could Determine the Outcome of the 2024 Elections If They Turn Out

In an op-ed published in Teen Vogue, Rebecca Mears describes how young voters ages 18 to 24 have the power to shape the course of the 2024 presidential election.

Fact Sheet: Local School Board Elections Matter

Local school boards help shape their communities, yet few people show up to their elections.

5 Reasons To Pay Attention to Local School Board Elections

As voters prepare for election season, they should not discount the importance of their local school boards.

CAP Changemakers: Reforming the Courts

This conversation with Devon Ombres and Jake Faleschini highlights CAP’s role in the current movement to reform the courts in an effort to make justice more fair and transparent.

The Power of One Vote

Elections help determine the quality of the air Americans breathe, the water they drink, and everything else in between; and more often than people realize, these elections come down to just a handful of votes.

CAP Comment on the FCC’s Proposed Rule for the Disclosure of AI-Generated Content in Political and Issue Ads

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission explaining that the FCC’s proposed rule aligns with existing policies and practices.

Podemos reparar nuestra división nacional

Michael Sozan, Cissy Jackson y Walter Olson del Cato Institute escriben en La Opinión sobre cómo bajar la temperatura en este tenso momento político.

Practical Steps To Build Strong Political Norms and Stop Political Violence

As American democracy faces significant challenges, people must work together to help set healthy political norms and reject a culture that allows political violence to flourish.

We can mend our national division

In an op-ed published by The Baltimore Sun, Michael Sozan, Cissy Jackson, and the Cato Institute’s Walter Olson offer guidance on how to turn down the temperature in this fraught political moment.

Despite Defying His Own Lawful Subpoena, Rep. Jim Jordan Has Issued At Least 91 Subpoenas to Others

Accountability is needed for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who has created an antidemocratic, two-tiered system of justice as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The Supreme Court’s Presidential Immunity Case, the Threat to Democracy, and the Path Forward

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event that will address the threats the current U.S. Supreme Court and a future president could pose to the foundation of American democracy.

Project 2025 Would End DHS Law Enforcement Training

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers would be collateral damage in Project 2025’s proposed dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security.

Democracy at a Crossroads: A Q&A About Free and Fair Elections With EAC Chairman Benjamin Hovland

As America’s election system continues to face formidable challenges, Chairman Benjamin Hovland of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission again shares his views with CAP about ways to respond.

The Far Right’s Invitation for Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

U.S. elections belong in the hands of the American people alone, but the far right is trying to roll back foreign interference protections and allow adversaries to tip the scales in elections.

New Jersey voters have fewer protections than New Yorkers. It’s time to fix that.

Rebecca Mears argues in the New Jersey Monitor why the state of New Jersey should pass its own voting rights act.

Citizens United Overreach: New CAP Report Reveals Legal Risk in For-Profit Corporate Boards’ Political Spending

Join CAP for a virtual discussion on Citizens United overreach.

Voting Rights in Alabama

The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, the Battle Against Voter Suppression Today, and the Need for Federal Solutions

How the Racist History of the Filibuster Lives on Today

By blocking the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the filibuster continues its long history as an institutional tool used to oppress Black and brown Americans.

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 Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and the Continued Fight for Rights

A conversation with Sen. Doug Jones and civil rights attorney Fred Gray

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.

Sen. Mark Warner Discusses the Potential Impacts of the Murthy v. Missouri Case

The policy implications are wide-ranging.

5 Reasons Why Careening From Near Shutdown to Near Shutdown Is Bad for America

While avoiding a federal government shutdown is important, the chaos of constant shutdown threats; uncertainties about funding; and patchwork continuing resolutions are still detrimental for the government’s ability to provide services and the health of American democracy.

The Supreme Court’s Assault on Government Could Make the Far-Right’s Dreams Come True

The Supreme Court could strip power away from Congress and the president in several cases this term in ways that will make life worse for everyday Americans.

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.

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.

DeSantis’ Lackluster Campaign Unleashed Campaign Finance’s Nightmare Scenario

In an op-ed for TPM, Tom Moore explains how Ron DeSantis’ campaign failures may have opened the door for an even bigger disaster in the form of an alarming loophole in federal campaign finance law.