What We Do
We believe that effective government should reflect the needs and priorities of the American people, as defined by an informed, engaged citizenry.
Our mission is two-pronged:
Enhance public understanding and appreciation of what government does and how it operates in all of our communications. If we expect our national government to manage large-scale societal challenges, citizens need to believe that government can contribute to the common good, protect the health, safety, and quality of life of all Americans, and manage resources for the future; and citizens need to know to how they can participate in governance decisions between elections.
Protect core governing processes from undue influence by special interests, through analysis, advocacy, and strategic partnerships inside and outside of Washington. We particularly focus on effective implementation of critical public protections, improvements in public spending transparency, and reforms that enhance government performance and public oversight of governance practices.
Effective, accountable government requires elected officials and public employees to put the public interest above special interests and operate with the highest ethical standards. We support reforms that ensure the integrity of the processes and people that we employ to keep the public sector working. To build a more open, responsive, and effective government, we:
Examples of Our Work & Successes
The Center for Effective Government conducts policy research; develops and advocates for policy reforms; creates tools to encourage citizen participation and government accountability; and builds broad-based coalitions to advance these values. To ensure the American people understand the vital role of government, we produce and disseminate educational materials. We are a resource for policymakers, the media, advocacy groups, community organizations, and the public. Read more.