Eight things to know about the National Guard in Washington, D.C.
The deployment of the Guard is an autocratic escalation threatening to spread across American cities.
August 13, 2025
Federal efforts to expand access to data from state-run programs and individual privacy
In this explainer, we highlight the potential harms associated with the federal government’s unprecedented efforts to access state administrative data
July 28, 2025
DOGE and state voter rolls
While efforts by the Trump administration to expand an immigration data system for verifying voting eligibility might initially sound sensible, it is a solution in search of a problem.
July 15, 2025
Done right, rescissions keep Congress in control of federal spending
When presidents want to propose cutting funds, they must send a message to Congress providing information about which funds they are proposing to cut. The proposed cuts are called “rescissions."
July 11, 2025
Election certification, explained
Election certification is the process through which the canvass – the process of counting and aggregating ballots, and ensuring that every ballot is accounted for – is concluded.
May 19, 2025
Trump’s proposed sovereign wealth fund plan, explained
President Trump's plan for a sovereign wealth fund has raised questions about its purpose and how it would be managed.
May 14, 2025
How does Gen Z really feel about democracy?
A survey of young Americans shows they don't think as a monolith and offers three distinct profiles of how they perceive democracy, engage with civic life, and see their role in shaping the future.
April 6, 2025
How would constituent services in American multi-member districts work?
This paper by Anne Meeker and Lee Drutman explains how congressional casework operates today, and how it might operate in a future House of Representatives elected by proportional representation.
April 2, 2025
Trapped in a two-party system
Americans want more parties, but we only get two. Our paper details how to give Americans more choices at the polls.
March 18, 2025
The myth of presidential impoundment power
We correct mischaracterizations of the history of presidential impoundments and demonstrate that there is no inherent presidential power to impound.
March 14, 2025