Secret Spending in the States
This new report measures, for the first time, the surge in secret spending in state and local elections, and offers clues to the kinds of contests where we are likely to see such spending in 2016.
Research Report
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Judicial Recusal Reform: Toward Independent Consideration of Disqualification
This report examines an important but underscrutinized challenge for fair and impartial courts: the procedural rules governing judicial disqualification. -
Improving New York City's Public Benefits System: Improving New York City's Public Benefits System: A Key Role for Help Desks
This report describes a variety of ways in which help desks can substantially improve the public benefits system and the lives of many New Yorkers. It is time for the City to remove its ban on help. -
Eligible for Justice: Guidelines for Appointing Defense Counsel
Without fair standards for assessing eligibility, some people who truly cannot afford counsel without undue hardship are turned away. -
Political Opportunity: A New Framework for Democratic Reform
The concept of political opportunity can provide a set of approaches that are more likely to be effective at balancing the voice of the well-off and breaking the cycle of cumulative inequality. -
Smart on Crime
The complete report identifies 43 criminal justice priorities in 15 issue areas and makes recommendations for both Congressional and Executive action. -
Requiring Government Contractors to Disclose Political Spending
The president can take a critical step to address the dark money problem, by issuing an executive order that mandates government contractors disclose their political spending. -
Developing Empirical Evidence for Campaign Finance Cases
This report reviews the current state of campaign finance law, explains how the Supreme Court has considered evidence in campaign finance cases, and identifies the key empirical questions in campaign finance law that have been or need to be answered. -
Breaking Free with Fair Elections
Fair Elections – systems with full public financing of elections – would help improve the openness, honesty, and accountability of government. -
State Options for Reform
States and cities have demonstrated that successful policy options exist to reduce the influence of big campaign money on politics.
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