Threats to Democratic Institutions

Democratic institutions are essential for ensuring government accountability, protecting individual rights, and maintaining the balance of power. Today, these institutions face significant threats, including challenges to electoral integrity, weakening of the rule of law, and attacks on independent bodies like the judiciary and media. These pressures put at risk the democratic framework that sustains the United States.

Challenges to Electoral Integrity

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy, yet partisan redistricting and efforts to alter traditional election rules undermine fair representation. These tactics contribute to voter disenfranchisement and reduce public confidence in the electoral system, threatening the legitimacy of election outcomes (Why States Abandoned Traditional Redistricting Rules in Partisan Power Grab).

Straining Checks and Balances

The separation of powers depends on respect among branches of government. Executive overreach, such as ignoring Supreme Court orders, disrupts this balance and threatens constitutional governance. Recognizing these patterns can help citizens understand when democratic norms are eroding (What Happens When Presidents Ignore Supreme Court Orders, Do Trump’s Tactics Echo McCarthyism?).

Rule of Law and Political Investigations

A fair democracy requires laws to apply equally. When legal processes become tools for politically motivated prosecutions, public trust declines. Understanding the norms around investigating former presidents clarifies the line between legitimate oversight and political retribution (The Norms and Consequences of Investigating a Presidential Predecessor, Legal Risks and Political Fallout of Trump Prosecuting Comey, How The Trump Administration Might Target Former Administrations).

Protecting Institutional Independence

Independent institutions such as courts, media, and the legal profession form key defenses against authoritarianism. Attacks on these institutions and rising political violence threaten the peaceful functioning of democracy. Political scientists now rate the United States closer to illiberal regimes than to strong democracies, reflecting deep concerns about democratic erosion (Is Political Violence Rising in America?, Why Political Scientists Now Rate U.S. Closer to ‘Illiberal’ Than ‘Strong Democracy’).