Protect Democracy

Democratic institutions don't protect themselves — citizens do. Understanding how checks and balances work helps you support them effectively.

Democracy Requires Active Participation

Constitutional protections work because citizens, officials, and institutions actively maintain them. When people understand and engage with these systems, they become more resilient.

Checks and Balances

The U.S. Constitution distributes power across multiple institutions specifically to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. Each institution has tools to check the others.

Institution Role How It Checks Power
Congress Makes laws, controls spending, confirms appointments, conducts oversight, can impeach Can override vetoes, subpoena witnesses, refuse to fund programs
Federal Courts Interprets laws, reviews constitutionality, protects individual rights Can block unconstitutional actions, issue injunctions, rule laws invalid
State Governments Run elections, maintain own laws, provide services, command National Guard Can refuse to cooperate with federal overreach, protect state residents
Free Press Informs public, investigates wrongdoing, holds power accountable Can expose corruption, shape public opinion, preserve historical record

Key Topics

Constitutional Checks

How the separation of powers works. The roles of Congress, courts, and states in checking executive power.

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Election Protection

How to protect voting rights. Poll watching, election monitoring, and reporting irregularities.

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Legal Pathways

How courts and legal advocacy work. Understanding lawsuits, injunctions, and constitutional challenges.

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Free Press

Why independent journalism matters. How to support local news and identify reliable sources.

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Institutional Resistance

How public servants, institutions, and civil society can resist unlawful orders and defend democratic norms.

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What You Can Do

Support Institutions

  • Subscribe to quality local and national journalism
  • Donate to legal organizations defending civil liberties
  • Thank officials who uphold their oaths
  • Volunteer as a poll worker or election observer

Stay Informed

  • Follow court cases affecting civil liberties
  • Track your representatives' votes
  • Understand your state's election laws
  • Learn to identify misinformation

Democratic Resilience

Scholars identify these as warning signs:

  • • Attacks on the legitimacy of elections
  • • Weakening of independent media
  • • Politicization of law enforcement and courts
  • • Undermining of civil service institutions
  • • Demonization of political opponents as enemies

Source: Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, "How Democracies Die"

Recognizing these patterns early allows citizens to respond before democratic erosion becomes irreversible. History shows that democracies are most resilient when citizens actively defend norms and institutions, even when their preferred party holds power.

Organizations & Resources