Reimagining Democratic Institutions for a New American Century

Abstract

Equality of voice and representation is a foundational value of American democracy anda prerequisite for democratic renewal and adaptation in the twenty-first century. This essay considers the potential and progress made toward three structural reforms – expanding the House of Representatives, implementing Supreme Court term limits, and introducing ranked-choice voting – designed to increase genuine representation. It also finds that their transformative potential is increased by a fourth reform: multi-member congressional districts. America's 250th anniversary offers a rare opportunity for democratic renewal that we cannot afford to waste or allow to succumb to partisan politics. The alternative – accepting institutional dysfunction and democratic decay – is unacceptable.