Government Reform

Americans’ trust in government—and their faith in democracy overall—remain at very low levels. In part, this lack of confidence results from the unavoidable fact that many government institutions are unable to effectively respond to people’s needs and priorities. For example, Congress often deadlocks when considering popular policies; the Electoral College sometimes produces presidential election results at odds with the popular vote; federal campaign finance laws often favor the wealthy, special interests, and corporations over voters; many states have passed laws aimed at suppressing voters of color and subverting election results; and the U.S. Supreme Court has stripped people of some fundamental rights. People inevitably lose trust in government when the system seems prone to corruption and stacked against them or when elected leaders fail to enact and defend policies designed to help people achieve the American dream.

To meet these challenges, the Center for American Progress is focused on progressive, commonsense policies to modernize government for 21st century realities and build a democracy that fully represents all Americans. CAP’s government reform work takes place at the local, state, and federal levels, and wherever possible, with stakeholders across the ideological spectrum. We advance policies that will, among other things, set national baseline standards to help ensure free and fair elections and the drawing of nonpartisan congressional districts; reduce the influence of corporate money and secret spending that warp elections; meaningfully reform the Supreme Court; update U.S. Senate rules to make it harder for the minority political party to stop progress on popular legislation; and ensure that elected officials do their jobs in transparent and ethical ways.

A group of voters is seen filling out their ballots in voting booths at a polling place.
Voters cast their ballots in Los Angeles on June 5, 2018. (Getty/Mario Tama)

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Update Project 2025: The Plan To Seize Power by Gutting America’s System of Checks and Balances (title update 12:58PT) Article

Update Project 2025: The Plan To Seize Power by Gutting America’s System of Checks and Balances (title update 12:58PT)

Project 2025—and the budget plans it has spawned—would erode Americans’ personal freedoms and harm the middle class, starting by consolidating power in the presidency just as authoritarian governments have done in other countries around the world.

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

CAP Joined by Gun Violence Victim Advocates To Comment on OVC’s Proposed Rules on Victim Compensation Grant Program Article

CAP Joined by Gun Violence Victim Advocates To Comment on OVC’s Proposed Rules on Victim Compensation Grant Program

The Center for American Progress, along with 47 organizations, submitted a comment letter advocating on behalf of victims to the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime on the agency’s proposal to replace the existing Victim Compensation Grant Program guidelines and clarify program requirements.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall

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.

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

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

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.

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

4 Ways Reforming the Filibuster Will Improve Lives Article
Farewell Filibuster

4 Ways Reforming the Filibuster Will Improve Lives

It's time to say farewell to the filibuster so Congress can pass vital and popular legislation on voting rights, equal pay, and more.

Alex Tausanovitch, Maggie Amjad

How the Biden Administration Can Save the Census Report

How the Biden Administration Can Save the Census

The census data that the U.S. government and economy depend on may be in danger—unless the incoming Biden administration acts quickly to fix them.

Alex Tausanovitch

The Need To Rebuild the DOJ Office for Access to Justice Article
The U.S. Department of Justice building is seen on a March 2019 evening with one light on, Washington, D.C. (Getty/Drew Angerer)

The Need To Rebuild the DOJ Office for Access to Justice

The Biden administration can immediately act to begin renewing the federal government’s work to reform civil and criminal justice systems.

Maggie Jo Buchanan, Maha Jweied, Karen A. Lash

5 Immediate Steps To Rein in DHS in the Wake of Portland Report
 (People gather to protest in front of the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in downtown Portland, Oregon, on July 27, 2020.)

5 Immediate Steps To Rein in DHS in the Wake of Portland

The recent actions by U.S. Department of Homeland Security personnel on the streets of Portland, Oregon, and across the country raise significant concerns about a department out of control.

Tom Jawetz, Philip E. Wolgin, Claudia Flores

20 Ways Cities Can Promote Safe and Effective Elections in November Report
 (A woman drops her Connecticut 2020 presidential primary ballot at a secure ballot drop box in Stamford, Connecticut, on August 11, 2020.)

20 Ways Cities Can Promote Safe and Effective Elections in November

Cities have an important role in helping to ensure that during the coronavirus pandemic, Americans can make their voices heard in the upcoming election cycle.

Danielle Root

Restoring Integrity and Independence at the U.S. Justice Department Report
 (

Restoring Integrity and Independence at the U.S. Justice Department

The next attorney general has a daunting task to rebuild the U.S. Department of Justice; this report contains recommendations from former DOJ officials who served in multiple administrations on how to start that important work.

the Criminal Justice team

How Partisan Gerrymandering Hurts Kids Report
A woman and her children vote at a polling station during the midterm elections at the Fairfax County bus garage in Lorton, Virginia, on November 6, 2018. (Getty/Andrew Caballero)

How Partisan Gerrymandering Hurts Kids

As state leaders try to expand programs that would provide child care, education, and other support for families with children, the politics of gerrymandering stand in their way.

Alex Tausanovitch, Steven Jessen-Howard, Jessica Yin, 1 More Justin Schweitzer

Trump’s Politicization of the Justice System Article
President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr U.S. Capitol in Washington, May 2019. (Getty/Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

Trump’s Politicization of the Justice System

Donald Trump’s attacks on the legitimacy of America’s legal system are growing increasingly dangerous and brazen.

Maggie Jo Buchanan

End Gerrymandering To Help Prevent Gun Violence Video

End Gerrymandering To Help Prevent Gun Violence

Putting an end to gerrymandering could lead to tougher gun legislation at the state level—and, as a result, safer communities.

Jasmine Hardy, Alex Tausanovitch, Chelsea Parsons, 1 More Sam Berger

America Decides Report

America Decides

One year out from the 2020 election, American voters support a range of pragmatic government actions to expand health care access and reduce costs; increase taxation on the wealthy; help low-income families with basic living necessities; and check corporate power.

John Halpin, Karl Agne, Nisha Jain

Building a More Inclusive Federal Judiciary Report
The Contemplation of Justice statue stands in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Building a More Inclusive Federal Judiciary

The federal judiciary does not reflect the population that it serves, which has severe consequences for both the institution’s legitimacy and the parties who come before it.

Danielle Root, Jake Faleschini, Grace Oyenubi

The Impact of Partisan Gerrymandering Article
People hold signs during a rally at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., calling for

The Impact of Partisan Gerrymandering

New CAP analysis finds that the impacts of partisan gerrymandering are comparable to switching the majority of votes in 22 states.

Alex Tausanovitch

Civil Justice Needs Federal Leadership Report

Civil Justice Needs Federal Leadership

The United States needs federal leadership to ensure that it has a civil justice system that works for all Americans.

Maha Jweied, Karen A. Lash

Related Priorities

Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice
Issue

Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice

We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.

Restoring Social Trust in Democracy
Issue

Restoring Social Trust in Democracy

Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must act to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.