The United States is in the midst of a great fight for the future of constitutional democracy. The Brennan Center works to build a nation that is democratic, just, and free for everyone. We are committed to the rule of law. We work to craft and advance a transformative reform agenda of solutions that aim to make American democracy work for all.
The Brennan Center has built a distinct model to advance legal and policy change:
- We’re a think tank, conducting rigorous research to identify problems and craft transformative solutions.
- We’re an advocacy group, fighting in court and working with elected officials to advance legislation.
- We’re a communications hub, shaping opinion by taking our message directly to the press and public.
Now, the vital safeguards and checks and balances that underpin democracy are under attack. Amid harsh assaults on immigrants and communities of color, today’s politics are polarized and Congress paralyzed. We know this: The best response to an attack on democracy is to strengthen democracy.
That’s why we’ve pioneered innovative reforms including:
- Small donor public financing programs, which would give ordinary Americans a much louder voice in political campaigns.
- Ballot initiatives that end partisan gerrymandering.
- Funding incentives for state policies that both shrink the prison population and bolster public safety.
In all this, we take our cue from Abraham Lincoln’s admonition at another time of constitutional debate:
“Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed. Consequently, he who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed.”
Truly effective legal and policy change requires winning, first and foremost, in the court of public opinion.