Secured a nationwide injunction blocking border wall construction without congressional approval and helped enact power of the purse legislation to ensure future presidents cannot circumvent Congress.
Defending the Rule of Law
Our Work
In the 21st Century, democracies have tended to die not at the barrel of a gun but by the gradual erosion of democratic norms and guardrails.

Would-be authoritarians often abuse their power, using it to eliminate checks and balances, quash dissent, target already marginalized communities, and deepen political divisions.
The Constitution and the laws we have built around it provide tools to constrain authoritarian behavior. But many of the norms and guardrails that help define our democracy are not written into law and are not self-enforcing. Together these restraints must be exercised (and strengthened) to prevent government officials from abusing their power and to ensure the law applies equally to everyone, from the most powerful to the least.
- Uphold the principle that nobody is above the law.
- Ensure accountability for those who have attacked or undermined our democracy — regardless of their political standing.
- Ensure meaningful checks and balances on executive power.
- Stop abuses that target marginalized groups and their ability to participate in democracy.
- Protect the ability of the public and the press to voice dissenting views.
- Protect independent, non-politicized law enforcement and civil servant workforces.
Helped prevent a sitting president from politicizing the Department of Justice to interfere in an election, in part through a multi-year campaign organizing thousands of Department of Justice alumni.
Impact in the News

Congressional Testimony: How to Strengthen Congressional Oversight Capacity Congressional Testimony:

Towards Non-Recurrence: Accountability Options for Trump-Era Transgressions
Towards Non-Recurrence: Accountability Options for Trump-Era Transgressions

The Right Questions to Ask About a Trump Prosecution
How to evaluate an indictment – or lack of one

Protect Democracy Files SCOTUS Briefs Asking Court to Scrutinize Emergency Powers
Protect Democracy has filed amicus briefs in two cases at the Supreme Court concerning uses of emergency powers purportedly related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 117th Congress Left American Democracy Stronger Than It Found It
With advances on ECA reform and other democracy legislation, a departing Congress leaves American democracy in slightly better shape than it found it for the first time in over a decade.

How Democracy Concerns & January 6th Influenced Midterm Voting
New January 6th midterm polls finds that voters—especially voters who split the ticket—were strongly motivated to respond to threats to democracy.

Testimony of Soren Dayton Before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties: Examining Potential Reforms of Emergency Powers
Protect Democracy’s Soren Dayton testifies before Congress on reforms to the National Emergencies Act.
Protect Democracy’s Anne Tindall testifies before the House Modernization Committee on how to strengthen congressional oversight capacity
Protect Democracy's Anne Tindall testifies before the House Modernization Committee on how to strengthen congressional oversight capacity.

The Bipartisan and Bicameral Congressional Push to Rebalance National Security Powers
Two bills offer an opportunity to restore the proper Constitutional balance of powers between Congress and the presidency on matters of foreign policy and national security decision making.

Testimony of Anne Tindall and Grant Tudor before the House Judiciary Committee: Modernizing Congress’s Subpoena Compliance and Enforcement Methods
Anne Tindall and Grant Tudor outline how Congress can modernize its subpoena compliance and enforcement methods and secure the information it needs to oversee the executive branch.

Explaining the Protecting Our Democracy Act
A just-completed series at The Fulcrum provides the details on the Protecting our Democracy Act’s components (PODA).
Testimony of Soren Dayton Before the House Modernization Committee: How to Re-Empower Congress
Protect Democracy’s Soren Dayton explains how the House Modernization Committee can help Congress reassert its role in our constitutional order.