Recommendations | American Academy of Arts and Sciences

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The Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship identified 31 recommendations grouped among six strategies to reinvent American democracy for the 21st century.

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Achieve Equality of Voice and Representation

Equal Representation

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RECOMMENDATION 1.1

Enlarge the House of Representatives

RECOMMENDATION 1.2

Ranked-Choice Voting

RECOMMENDATION 1.3

Multi-Member House Districts

RECOMMENDATION 1.4

Independent Redistricting Commissions

RECOMMENDATION 1.5

Pass an Amendment to Address Money in Politics

RECOMMENDATION 1.6

Campaign Finance Disclosure and Transparency

RECOMMENDATION 1.7

Clean Election Laws

RECOMMENDATION 1.8

18-Year Terms for Supreme Court Justices

Empowered Voters

Empowered Voters

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RECOMMENDATION 2.1

More and Easier Ways to Vote

RECOMMENDATION 2.2

Move Election Day to Veterans Day

RECOMMENDATION 2.3

Same-Day and Universal Voting Registration

RECOMMENDATION 2.4

Voting Preregistration for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

RECOMMENDATION 2.5

Universal Voting

RECOMMENDATION 2.6

Paid Voter Orientation

RECOMMENDATION 2.7

Restore Voting Rights to Citizens with Felony Convictions

Democratic Citizenship

Ensure the Responsiveness of Government Institutions

Responsive Government

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RECOMMENDATION 3.1

Make Public Meetings More Accessible

RECOMMENDATION 3.2

Make Congress More Responsive

RECOMMENDATION 3.3

Create Citizens’ Assemblies

RECOMMENDATION 3.4

Increase Participatory Governance

Dramatically Expand Civic Bridging Capacity

Connected Communities

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RECOMMENDATION 4.1

Create a Trust for Civic Infrastructure

RECOMMENDATION 4.2

Support Civic Leaders

Build Civic Information Architecture that Supports Common Purpose

Social Media as Civic Media

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RECOMMENDATION 5.1

Assess Social Media’s Civic Value

RECOMMENDATION 5.2

Social Media as Public Media

RECOMMENDATION 5.3

Public-Interest Mandate for Social Media

RECOMMENDATION 5.4

Make Digital Platform Data Accessible

RECOMMENDATION 5.5

Improve Data on Democratic Engagement

Inspire a Culture of Commitment to American Constitutional Democracy and One Another

Culture of Shared Commitment

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RECOMMENDATION 6.1

Create a Universal Expectation of National Service

RECOMMENDATION 6.2

Telling Our Nation’s Story

RECOMMENDATION 6.3

Develop Civic Faith

RECOMMENDATION 6.4

Promote Our Common Purpose

RECOMMENDATION 6.5

Invest in Civic Education