American democracy is at risk. More and more Americans distrust political institutions. Partisan conflict is at historic highs. Nearly every American believes that government agencies and leaders act outside the law with impunity. To address these challenges, Public Agenda aims to find and build on common ground.
By exploring the values and beliefs of ordinary Americans and investigating reforms that encourage productive public participation, we provide people and organizations with a clearer understanding of both the challenges we face in strengthening democracy and the promising pathways toward a healthier, more sustainable democratic future.
Democracy Initiatives
Initiative
Democracy Renewal Project
Providing evidence and tools for the democracy renewal movement.
Initiative
Healthier Democracies
Gleaning insights from successful democratic practices around the globe aimed at increasing citizen participation.
Initiative
Hidden Common Ground
Helping Americans identify common ground, navigate their differences, and build fair, effective solutions to the challenges of our time.
Initiative
The State of Our Democracy
Understanding the challenges facing our democracy and the promising pathways for meeting them.
Research & Reports
Report
When Participatory Budgeting Funds Schools, Who Benefits An Equity Analysis of PB Investments in...
Democracy
Executive Summary: In participatory budgeting (PB), members of the public vote on how public money should be spent Equity goals have been central to...
In Their Words: Hidden Common Ground Audio Journals on Racism, Racial Justice, and Religion
Democracy
These audio journals were captured as part of our Hidden Common Ground initiative The recordings, which serve as a companion to our American...
Report
American Perspectives on Racism and Racial Justice: A Hidden Common Ground Report
Democracy
Americans widely agree on racial equality as a general principle, but Americans differ by political affiliation and by race and ethnicity in their...
