Departments

Structural Reform and Governance

We work to ensure a more representative democracy that delivers results for all Americans through our government, courts, and in new digital town squares.

Volunteers help roll up a giant banner printed with the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution during a demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, October 2010, in Washington. (Getty/Chip Somodevilla)

What We're Doing

Encouraging professional diversity on the federal bench

Despite recent historic gains, professional diversity on the federal appellate courts is severely lacking, with significant implications for the legal expertise underlying judges’ decisions. Our analysis identifies policy proposals to improve the pipeline for judicial diversity.

Advancing voting rights and countering election sabotage

With states introducing hundreds of bills to disenfranchise voters, new federal election standards are vitally needed. Our research makes the case for these standards and shows how the Freedom to Vote Act would counter state laws seeking to suppress voter turnout and sabotage valid election results.

Addressing social media’s threat to our democracy

In the wake of widespread disinformation about the 2020 general election, social media companies must modify their products and policies to mitigate threats to democratic legitimacy and public safety. We identify concrete steps that could help address health and election-related disinformation.

 

Recent Work

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The Supreme Court Has Fully Embraced an Antidemocratic, Right-Wing Agenda Article
The U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court Has Fully Embraced an Antidemocratic, Right-Wing Agenda

The Supreme Court has taken off its mask this term by creating unconstitutional de facto immunity for future presidents who act illegally and by gutting the ability of public agencies and Congress to protect Americans from abuse by right-wing special interests.

Devon Ombres

Lowering Costs for American Families Past Event

Lowering Costs for American Families

Join CAP for a conversation with Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Joe Biden.

Center for American Progress

Fact Sheet: Recommendations for the White House To Take Further Action on AI Fact Sheet
President Joe Biden sits at a table with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to the right Arati Prabhakar to the left.

Fact Sheet: Recommendations for the White House To Take Further Action on AI

This fact sheet offers recommendations for how the White House, including the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, can utilize its authorities to address artificial intelligence (AI).

Taking Action on AI Today and in the Future Past Event

Taking Action on AI Today and in the Future

Please join Governing for Impact and the Center for American Progress in an event discussing how agencies can deploy existing statutory authorities to take further action on AI.

Center for American Progress

CAP and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Author Letter to National Institute of Justice Addressing Use of AI in the Criminal Justice System Article

CAP and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Author Letter to National Institute of Justice Addressing Use of AI in the Criminal Justice System

The Center for American Progress and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law co-authored a sign-on letter to the National Institute of Justice that addresses law enforcement’s use of artificial intelligence and outlines recommendations.

Challenges to the Rule of Law: A Pre-End-of-Term Supreme Court Review Past Event

Challenges to the Rule of Law: A Pre-End-of-Term Supreme Court Review

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event with expert panelists discussing the implications of the decisions being handed down by the Supreme Court in the next month.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Is Spearheading a Judicial Power Grab Report
A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Is Spearheading a Judicial Power Grab

The rogue 5th Circuit Court has helped undermine the separation of powers, established precedent, and principled legal reasoning to accomplish right-wing policy goals; the Supreme Court continuing to follow suit would strip power away from elected representatives and American voters.

Jeevna Sheth, Devon Ombres

CAP Authors Letter to Meta Addressing CrowdTangle Shutdown Concerns Article

CAP Authors Letter to Meta Addressing CrowdTangle Shutdown Concerns

The Center for American Progress and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue co-authored a sign-on letter to Meta executives urging them to delay the closure of CrowdTangle amid the U.S. election cycle and given a lack of features in the tool’s replacement.

Megan Shahi, Ellen Jacobs

Voting Rights in Alabama Past Event

Voting Rights in Alabama

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

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How the Racist History of the Filibuster Lives on Today Report
Photo shows the Capitol building against a background of dark gray storm clouds

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.

Greta Bedekovics

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.

4 AI Issues Lawmakers Cannot Ignore Past Event

4 AI Issues Lawmakers Cannot Ignore

Examining policies that Congress should prioritize in AI regulations

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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

Justices’ Trump Ballot Ruling May Spark Constitutional Crisis In the News

Justices’ Trump Ballot Ruling May Spark Constitutional Crisis

Devon Ombres explains why a Supreme Court majority opinion in Anderson v. Trump marks a grave overstep of the court’s authority that could spell a constitutional crisis for this and future elections.

Law360

Devon Ombres

5 Reasons Why Careening From Near Shutdown to Near Shutdown Is Bad for America Article
The waning Snow Moon sets behind the U.S. Capitol Dome.

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.

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

The Relentless Effort To End Agencies’ Ability To Protect Americans Video

The Relentless Effort To End Agencies’ Ability To Protect Americans

In Relentless v. Department of Commerce, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could hinder the ability of agencies to protect Americans in areas ranging from food and drug safety to safe workplaces, preventing air pollution, and administering Medicare.

Patrick Gaspard’s Statement for the Senate AI Insight Forum on Workforce Article

Patrick Gaspard’s Statement for the Senate AI Insight Forum on Workforce

Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, attended Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's Senate Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum on Workforce in November 2023; his statement at the event addressed the challenges and opportunities of AI, and he urged Congress to act.

Patrick Gaspard

Loper Bright and Relentless: Ending Judicial Deference To Cement Judicial Activism in the Courts Report
The U.S. Supreme Court reflected in a stanchion

Loper Bright and Relentless: Ending Judicial Deference To Cement Judicial Activism in the Courts

Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear two cases that could limit the federal government’s ability to serve the American people, giving unelected judges free rein to implement their own partisan policy agendas and disregard scientific analysis, the opinions of policy experts, and the will of Congress.

Jeevna Sheth, Devon Ombres

How the Supreme Court Could Limit Government’s Ability To Serve Americans in All Areas of Life Fact Sheet
Photo shows a hand holding a small American flag, with the Supreme Court building against a cloudy sky in the background

How the Supreme Court Could Limit Government’s Ability To Serve Americans in All Areas of Life

If the Supreme Court overturns the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, it could throw into chaos government’s ability to protect and serve the American people in areas ranging from workplace safety to Medicare administration to consumer protections, and much more.

Filibustered! How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America Past Event

Filibustered! How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America

If we want to fix what ails America, we have to fix the Senate. And if we want to fix the Senate, we must fix the broken filibuster.

Center for American Progress

CAP Highlights Strengths and Needed Clarifications in Comments to OMB AI Guidance Article

CAP Highlights Strengths and Needed Clarifications in Comments to OMB AI Guidance

CAP applauds the draft Office of Management and Budget AI guidance for adopting principles of the AI Bill of Rights and outlining critical safety-affecting and rights-affecting AI use cases and calls for additional clarity and transparency for federal government use of AI.

Adam Conner

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

Center for American Progress

CAP Comment Urges the OPM To Uphold Civil Service Protections in New Rule Change Article

CAP Comment Urges the OPM To Uphold Civil Service Protections in New Rule Change

CAP submitted comments on the OPM’s proposed rule entitled “Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles” to protect federal civil service employees and prevent the government workforce from becoming subject to a patronage system that rewards loyalty over expertise.

Cissy Jackson

Is Alaska the Secret to Saving American Democracy? Past Event

Is Alaska the Secret to Saving American Democracy?

How Electoral System Reform Can Reduce Polarization, Increase Voters’ Choices, and Incentivize Bipartisan Policymaking

1333 H St NW, Washington, D.C., 20005

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

The Time Tax: Better Access to Benefits by Reducing Administrative Burden Past Event
BROOKSVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Rusty Swain, 59, in Brooksville, Fla. on November 28, 2022. Swain, who has neck and back injuries from a job-related accident 10 years ago, says his bills have been piling up with his disability claim pending for a year.

The Time Tax: Better Access to Benefits by Reducing Administrative Burden

Please join the Center for American Progress for a panel discussion with experts on best practices for reducing administrative burden and increasing access to the services and programs individuals and their families need.

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Protecting Democracy Online in 2024 and Beyond Report
Photo illustration shows Elon Musk's face with the EU flag overlaid, on a smart phone sitting on a keyboard

Protecting Democracy Online in 2024 and Beyond

A series of high-profile global elections in 2024 will require social media platforms and generative AI developers to meet the moment amid an evolving and uncertain technology landscape.

Megan Shahi

Priorities for a National AI Strategy Article

Priorities for a National AI Strategy

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy emphasizing that the U.S. government must strike a balance between the innumerable opportunities of artificial intelligence to enhance the lives of the American people and the significant risks it poses to their livelihoods.

Megan Shahi, Adam Conner

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

People Determine the Reach of the Supreme Court In the News

People Determine the Reach of the Supreme Court

Maggie Jo Buchanan argues that a year after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the American people have stepped up to protect abortion rights.

DC Journal

Maggie Jo Buchanan

Developing Accountability Mechanisms for AI Systems Is Critical to the Development of Trustworthy AI Article

Developing Accountability Mechanisms for AI Systems Is Critical to the Development of Trustworthy AI

CAP submitted comments on how the National Telecommunications and Information Administration should develop a national framework for AI accountability to address the unmitigated risks of artificial intelligence and ensure that all AI technology is developed and deployed in safe and trustworthy ways.

Adam Conner, Megan Shahi, Ashleigh Maciolek, 1 More Ben Olinsky

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

Safer Internet Day Past Event

Safer Internet Day

Join CAP for a conversation about raising awareness of emerging online issues and how we can work together to reduce online harm.

1333 H St NW Washington DC 20005

What To Read Before the State of the Union Article
U.S. President Joe Biden talks to reporters after returning to the White House.

What To Read Before the State of the Union

The economy; democracy and the courts; and community safety and gun violence are expected to be at center stage as President Biden prepares to address the nation during his second State of the Union address.

Kiera Manser, Rose Khattar, Ben Olinsky, 1 More Rachael Eisenberg

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

The Dangers of a Twitter Bankruptcy or Acquisition Article
Photo shows the blue Twitter bird logo on the side of a building, partly covered by shade.

The Dangers of a Twitter Bankruptcy or Acquisition

Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter is financially precarious, and his need for cash could result in bankruptcy—a sale that could reinforce existing Big Tech companies or open up access to sensitive data.

Adam Conner

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

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

What To Expect When the January 6 Hearings Resume Article
Photo shows the U.S. Capitol building against a dark, stormy sky

What To Expect When the January 6 Hearings Resume

Here’s everything you need to know before the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol resumes its hearings September 28.

William Roberts, Genna Cifelli

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.

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How State Attorneys General Can Protect Abortion Rights Article
Woman wearing face mask that says

How State Attorneys General Can Protect Abortion Rights

As some states seek to criminalize abortion within their borders, attorneys general can take many actions to ensure access to abortion care in at least some states.

Maggie Jo Buchanan, Elyssa Spitzer

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

Technology bills can help working families In the News

Technology bills can help working families

Adam Conner discusses how the American Innovation and Choice Online Act and the Open App Markets Act would unlock innovation and benefit New Mexico's economies.

The New Mexican

Adam Conner

How Americans Can Fight Back Against a Radical Supreme Court Majority Article
The U.S. Supreme Court.

How Americans Can Fight Back Against a Radical Supreme Court Majority

Responding to the judicial overreach of a radical Supreme Court majority will require long-term structural reforms to the courts and immediate action to mitigate the harms caused by their wrongly decided decisions.

Ben Olinsky, Grace Oyenubi

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