The Council for American Democracy

Reclaiming the Promise of American Self-Government, Together

American democracy was built to endure conflict, to withstand a consolidation of power, and to serve all citizens. But today, its very foundations are under threat. That’s why Issue One created The Council for American Democracy — to meet this moment with purpose, urgency, and the power of Americans coming together, ready to build a better democracy. Because protecting democracy is and always has been, a shared responsibility.

Who We Are

In this moment of threat to our values and norms, saving our democracy for our families, our scientific innovation, our veterans, our healthcare, our disaster victims, our national security, our international standing, and our neighbors won’t come from a partisan win. It requires Americans of every background to stand together for our founding principles.

The Council for American Democracy (TCAD) is a crosspartisan network of patriotic civic, business, philanthropic, and cultural leaders brought together by a shared understanding: repairing, reforming, and renewing American democracy requires coordinated, strategic, and sustained action.

We are not a campaign. We are not chasing headlines. We are building power to renew American democracy for us and for future generations through systemic, long-term reform that needs to start now. We’re taking a building-blocks approach with both urgency and endurance in mind:

• Win near-term victories through focused pressure and strategic campaigns.
• Build the infrastructure for long-term reform. Educate and equip a movement of reform advocates with strategic knowledge and tools.
• Amplify stories that remind Americans of what democracy makes possible.

TCAD members turn passion into action. From publishing op-eds and meeting directly with members of Congress to supporting Issue One’s efforts to build bipartisan consensus around constitutional principles, our members are driving real change to protect American democracy.

Get Involved

Join us as we:

1. Amass power through strategic recruitment to grow a powerful network across sectors, ideologies, and geographies that are part of, or connected to, key impacted constituencies like science, healthcare, academia, law, veterans, business leadership, and more.
2. Deploy power in the short and long term to defend, repair, and reform American democracy by targeting winnable fights in Congress and reframing democracy around real issues like healthcare, safety, and economic opportunity.

Because democracy is a story we write together. Issue One and TCAD believe that American democracy can be effective and inspiring once again, but it won’t fix itself. It takes all of us.

If you believe in this mission, now is the time to act!

By joining, you become part of a growing movement determined to restore the balance, dignity, and purpose of self-government.

How you will help:

• Fueling the Movement: Help us build a robust, cross-partisan coalition by channeling critical resources into our growing movement for democratic renewal. Your support powers the infrastructure for long-term impact.
• Activating Influence: Put your networks, expertise, and strategic insight to work, backing a bold agenda of immediate interventions and enduring reforms that restore legitimacy to American governance
• Executing Strategic Actions: Join focused, high-leverage campaigns designed to disrupt anti-democratic momentum while laying the groundwork for transformative change. These tactical efforts protect the system as we work to rebuild it.

Learn more about TCAD and how you can step into leadership in the movement for a stronger democracy — share a bit about yourself to get started.