About PPRThe Project on Political ReformPPR_fc2496f4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715Non-partisan in orientation, the Project on Political Reform investigates the sources of government dysfunction and identifies pragmatic solutions. PPR’s focus includes topics such as legislative decision-making, lobbying, political accountability, campaign laws and practices, structural incentives influencing candidate and office-holder behavior, and the relationships between governing institutions. Marc FarinellaExecutive DirectorHarris School of Public PolicyUniversity of ChicagoLocal GovernmentsPPR focuses primarily on local, state and federal government in the United States but, at times, may also address governmental dysfunction in other western democracies.State GovernmentsFederal Government Western Democracies_fc2497f8-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715To investigate the sources of government dysfunction and identifies pragmatic solutions._fc2498a2-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715Workable GovernanceEven in this era of hyper-partisanship, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can agree on one thing: government in the United States is broken. Evidence of political dysfunction abounds. Every night on the news, we see partisan squabbling and empty posturing.EffectivenessMore alarming, though, is the fact that our government too often fails to take effective action on issues of critical importance to America’s future. On a whole host of issues -- from climate change to a mystifying tax code that runs into the thousands of pages -- the government routinely ignores plain warnings of impending danger, mismanagement, corruption, and waste. Even on issues of everyday governance, like passing a budget, paying its debt obligations, and respecting deficit restrictions, government does not so much govern as it lurches from crisis to crisis. Problem SolvingMeanwhile, when it does manage to build the supermajorities needed to pass laws, the government tends to produce policies that are internally inconsistent and ineffective. And when these programs and policies are shown to have fixable flaws, the flaws too often don’t get fixed. Based on the assembled evidence, it is not at all clear that our government is up to the task of solving the problems of a modern, complex society.UnderstandingIn response to all of this dysfunction, political observers have offered any number of reforms. Term limits, lobbying restrictions, electoral reforms, institutional reorganizations, and much more have all been presented as salves to contemporary dissatisfaction. Each may have some promise. But if reforms are to be successful, they must be based on a clear understanding of what is actually wrong.ProductivityFor only when it is understood why a system is performing poorly can we know with confidence what changes will be most productive.ReformGiven the stakes, public policy schools need to become the center of responsible discussions about political reform. They must investigate the sources of government dysfunction, evaluate the merits of existing reform proposals, and craft new proposals based on data, research and scholarship. LegislationInvestigate dysfunctional legislative decision-making and identify solutions._fc249a50-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137151CongressState Legislatures_fc249b40-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715LobbyingInvestigate dysfunctional lobbying and identify solutions._fc249bf4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137152_fc249cb2-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715Political AccountabilityInvestigate dysfunctional political accountability and identify solutions._fc249d66-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137153PoliticiansElected OfficialsCandidates for Elective Office_fc249e1a-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715Political CampaignsInvestigate dysfunctional campaign laws and practices and identify solutions._fc249ef6-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137154_fc249fbe-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715IncentivesInvestigate dysfunctional structural incentives influencing candidate and office-holder behavior and identify solutions._fc24a072-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137155Candidates for Elective OfficeElected Office Holders_fc24a130-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715Governance RelationshipsInvestigate dysfunctional relationships between governing institutions and identify solutions._fc24a1e4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137156Governing Institutions_fc24a2a2-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f0613715Political PolarizationMitigate political polarization in the United States and/or its damaging repercussions._fc24a3c4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157Nathaniel PersilyNote: Many of [these] ideas are addressed in depth in the essays compiled in Solutions to Political Polarization in America, Cambridge University Press, 2015, edited by Nathaniel Persily. This book is an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about polarization and proposed solutions.The Project on Political Reform at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy is looking for new ideas -- big or small -- on how to mitigate political polarization in the United States and/or its damaging repercussions.There continues to be debate over the nature and scope of political polarization in the U.S. Some researchers contend that the American population is not significantly more polarized on public policy issues than normal historical parameters but, rather, polarization seems greater due to geographic and partisan sorting. Many argue that heightened polarization is largely confined to officeholders, political elites and activists. But others contend that the broader population has become more polarized on public policy matters.Further, for some, political polarization manifests as incivility, gridlock, and/or hyper-partisanship rather than heighten separation on policy preferences.For the purposes of this call, we accept your lens. We are interested in your ideas on how to address political polarization as you see it.Please note that political viability is a crucial consideration. The more politically viable, the more valuable the idea.To stimulate thought, we've created a list of ideas that have been suggested by various scholars and authors [documented as objectives in this StratML rendition].ElectionsReform the Election Process_fc24a482-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1Party ChoiceAbolish primary elections and let state and local party organizations choose nominees._fc24a54a-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.1Closed PrimariesGet rid of closed primaries._fc24a61c-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.2Unified Primary ElectionsAdopt a top-two or top-four unified primary election – open to all registered voters -- in which the top vote-getters regardless of party advance to the general election._fc24a6e4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.3(ex.: California; Washington)Instant Run-OffsAdopt instant run-off elections._fc24a7a2-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.4 Party EndorsementsEnd the official neutrality of party organizations in primary elections and instead encourage (when useful) party organizations to endorse candidates in primary elections, thereby allowing certain candidates to use the party "brand."_fc24a87e-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.5Party OrganizationsPresidential ElectionsElect members of Congress only in presidential election years._fc24a9b4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.6Members of CongressNon-Partisan BallotsAdopt non-partisan ballots such as those commonly used at the municipal level._fc24aa86-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.1.7ProportionalityAssure Proportionality_fc24ab62-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.2ReservationsReserve some seats for allocation to the party receiving the most votes if the party receiving the most votes does not also win the most seats._fc24ac34-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.2.1RepresentationAdopt proportional representation._fc24ad06-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.2.2RedistrictingMake the Redistricting Process Less Partisan_fc24ade2-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.3CommissionsAuthorize impartial commissions to draw election district boundaries in order to stop gerrymandering._fc24aeb4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.3.1Redistricting CommissionsTurnoutIncrease Turnout_fc24af90-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.4CoercionMake voting mandatory._fc24b076-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.4.1IncentivesAdopt a lottery or other incentives to increase voter turnout._fc24b148-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.4.2VotersVoter SuppressionStop voter suppression._fc24b224-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.4.3Primary ElectionsSpecify a single date when all states would hold their non-presidential primary elections._fc24b314-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.4.4StatesGOTVConstruct GOTV efforts that target moderate voters who frequently do not vote._fc24b3f0-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.4.5Moderate VotersCampaign FinanceReform the Campaign Finance System. _fc24b4d6-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5Candidate Campaign CommitteesPolitical PartiesPolitically Independent OrganizationsThe intention of some of these reform ideas is to strengthen candidate campaign committees and/or parties relative to outside groups.Public Financing_fc24b5c6-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.1Political Campaign OrganizationsPolitical CampaignsAdopt public financing of political campaigns._fc24b6ac-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.1.1Political PartiesAdopt public financing of campaigns with the funds channeled through political party organizations._fc24b792-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.1.2Political Party OrganizationsVouchersAllow voters to allocate public funds to candidates or multi-candidate PACs through vouchers._fc24b88c-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.1.3Candidates for Elective OfficeMulti-Candidate PACsContribution Limits_fc24b97c-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.2RestrictionsPlace stricter limits on contributions where limits are high or non-existent._fc24ba62-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.2.1Candidate CommitteesRaise limits for contributions to official candidate campaign committees._fc24bb8e-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.2.2Candidate Campaign CommitteesPolitical DonorsPolitical PartiesRaise limits for contributions to political parties._fc24bc7e-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.2.3Political PartiesPolitical ContributersSoft MoneyRestore the "soft money" loophole for party organizations._fc24bd78-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.3Party OrganizationsIndependent Groups_fc24be7c-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.4Independent GroupsCampaign SpendingLimit campaign spending by independent groups._fc24bf76-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.4.1Campaign ContributionsLimit contributions to independent groups._fc24c066-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.5.4.2Independent GroupsLegislative ProcessesReform the Legislative Process_fc24c174-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6FilibustersReform filibustering in the Senate._fc24c278-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.1U.S. SenateAbolitionAbolish the filibuster._fc24c372-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.1.1AffirmationInstead of filibuster and cloture, require 41 Senators to vote to stop a vote on a bill._fc24c48a-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.1.2TalkingRequire filibusters to be "talking" filibusters._fc24c58e-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.1.3Speaker of the HouseAdopt supermajority selection of the Speaker of the House._fc24c688-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.2U.S. House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the HouseEarmarksReinstitute earmarks._fc24c7a0-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.3ParliamentarianismAdopt a parliamentary system._fc24c8a4-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.4TransparencyReduce transparency, allowing more latitude for negotiation and compromise._fc24c9a8-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.5Judicial AppointmentsFor federal judicial appointments, remove the supermajority requirement and instead adopt a storable vote system that allows senators to cast multiple votes (from their aggregate judicial vote budget) for nominees they strongly support or oppose._fc24caca-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.6Federal JudgesU.S. SenatorsDebt CeilingEliminate the debt ceiling._fc24cbd8-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.7Single-TrackingMake obstruction more costly by reinstating single-tracking in the Senate so that the Senate cannot have two or more pieces of legislation pending on the floor at the same time._fc24ccdc-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.8U.S. SenateInterparty RelationshipsPromote and encourage repeated interparty interactions and facilitate interparty relationships among legislators._fc24ce08-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.6.9LegislatorsVotingImprove Voter Knowledge and Encourage Voter Respect for Differing Perspectives_fc24cf16-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.7VotersData ScienceUse data science to extract and summarize information from campaign finances records and other large data sets in order to provide better informational cues to voters._fc24d06a-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.7.1VotersPolitical Campaign OrganzationsPolitical ContributorsViewpointsWork with news organizations and social media websites to develop tools and strategies that facilitate more thoughtful, balanced and respectful consideration (by their audiences) of differing viewpoints._fc24d1a0-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.7.2News OrganizationsSocial MediaFact-CheckingStrengthen fact-checking initiatives._fc24d2b8-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.7.3Civic Education & NewsExpand civic education and civic news exposure among young people._fc24d3c6-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.7.4Young PeopleAge-RelevancyIncrease interest by utilizing age-relevant content._fc24d4fc-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.7.4.1Other ReformsAdopt additional reforms_fc24d61e-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.8Centrist PartyCreate a (most likely small or regional) Centrist Party which might change the dynamics in Congress._fc24d736-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.8.1Centrist PartyIncumbencyIncentivize incumbents to seek re-election and stay in office longer._fc24d876-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.8.2Log-RollingEncourage public acceptance of the need for log-rolling (i.e. side payments) when such side payments are legitimate and in the public interest._fc24d98e-6216-11e8-95f0-c093f06137157.8.32018-05-27https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers/project-political-reform/about-pprOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net