Our Democracy is in Danger
Our democracy is facing threats we haven’t seen in generations. Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting attacks, from at home and abroad, on our right to free, fair, and fully informed self-government. Together, armed with our Constitution and the rule of law, we can fight back and protect our democracy from those who would do it harm.
Learn more about Protecting Independent Law Enforcement
Learn more about the Cockrum v. Trump Campaign Lawsuit
Taking on the Threat
As Americans, we have strong tools rooted in our Constitution and system of checks and balances to prevent our democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. With experience upholding the guardrails of democracy in the American government, and working with experts who study the rise and fall of democracies around the world, we’ve identified key areas of risk that need our immediate attention.
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We're in this together.
History has shown that the best way to protect democracy is by standing united in its defense. Your contribution will help us to scale up our efforts to educate, advocate, organize, and litigate on behalf of the values we all hold dear.
“Democracies sometimes collapse suddenly. More typically, they waste away. One major cause of institutional decline involves politicians putting their own immediate interests ahead of their obligations to democratic norms. We wake up one day and discover that a long series of individual choices has rotted out the constraints on authoritarian rule. ”
“If there has ever been a clarion call for vigilance and action against a threat to the very foundation of our democratic political system, this episode is it. ”
“If a president can command the military and the civil service to break the law, there’s nothing to stop him from arresting his critics or falsifying an election. Even a president who has been democratically elected would then be in danger of overriding the will of the people once he falls out of favor. ”
“Elected authoritarians, as their popularity dwindles and their political allies leave them, often look weak and cornered. Some mistake this as a sign that extra vigilance is no longer warranted. But sometimes, this is precisely when elected authoritarians are most dangerous. ”
“We will put the problem more bluntly. Mr. Trump's suggestion that his Attorney General prosecute his defeated opponent is the kind of crude political retribution one expects in Erdogan's Turkey or Duterte's Philippines. ”
“Something to watch out for going forward would be overt and high-profile efforts to politicize prosecutions and investigations. Official attacks on specific media, such as the slander directed at the New York Times’s Bret Stephens, are also a concerning trend. I would pay attention to public opinion on democracy and toleration of political difference, which has been slipping on both sides of the aisle. ”
Latest Updates
Protect Democracy Files Brief in Trump Foundation case Rejecting Trump’s Claim To Be Above the Law
Late last week, Protect Democracy filed an amicus brief in a New York state court in New York v. Trump, countering Mr. Trump’s argument that because he is President he cannot be sued in state court. The brief was filed on behalf of three constitutional law professors who…
Protect Democracy Joins Cybersecurity Experts to Warn Against Networked Voting Machines
Protect Democracy joined top cybersecurity experts and advocacy groups in writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Election Assistance Commission warning of the dangers of networked voting machines. The letter cautions against using wireless modems in voting machines and provides recommendations for protecting…
Ninth Circuit Lets Appointment of Private Attorney in Arpaio Pardon Case Proceed
The 9th circuit just issued an order denying en banc review on the question of whether or not to appoint a private attorney in the Arpaio pardon appeal. Protect Democracy, along with our partners, are amici in this case who have sought the appointment of a private attorney.…