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American Institutions Network

From 2019-2019, R Street’s American Institutions Network (AIN) focused on the protection of democratic norms and American institutions by fostering discussions, partnerships and action. A collaborative discussion group, AIN aimed to shift today’s policy discussions away from politically-charged headlines to focus on the underlying institutional and cultural shifts that are threatening America’s form of government. Our points of focus were:

 

Congress as the First Branch: Congress must provide a real check of power to the executive branch and assert its place as the “first branch”, ensuring that the executive operates within legal, ethical and statutory bounds. Congress must retain its ability to legislate through normal, established, and traditional legislative procedure and channels.

 

Professional, Honest Government Institutions: Government agencies must not be used to monitor, attack, or punish political opponents. Regulatory structures must be appropriate, unilateral, and long-term. Information that is being used to inform decision making must be reliable and accurate. Information provided by government officials should be honest and grounded in empirical fact.

 

An Independent Judiciary: America’s judicial branch must be respected as apolitical, including, but not limited to, rejecting outcome-based views of justice and politicization.

 

A Free Press: The press must be identified and seen as a viable check on political power rather than a political propaganda tool itself. It must be re-established as an institution of our republic.

 

Civil, Loyal Opposition: Political dialogue and debate are essential to America’s form of government. As such, mutual tolerance, the understanding that competing parties accept one another as legitimate, should be consistently practiced. Information that is released to the public and used in public discourse by our political leaders must be trusted as true and accurate. Additionally, forbearance, or the idea that election-winners exercise respectful and appropriate restraint when wielding power rather than treating politics as winner-take-all, is necessary for the continuation of national stability.

Filter Listing

News American Institutions Network, Federal Government Affairs

Solutions Proposed in Response to Executive Branch Attacks on Scientific Integrity

Aubrey Neal Oct 4, 2019
In the News American Institutions Network, Cybersecurity Policy, Foreign Affairs

The Facts and Fiction of the Trump Impeachment Inquiry

Paul Rosenzweig Oct 2, 2019 The Great Courses Daily
Op-Eds American Institutions Network, Cybersecurity Policy, Federal Government Affairs, Foreign Affairs

The Whistle-Blower Passes the ‘Fanful Test’

Paul Rosenzweig Sept 28, 2019 The Atlantic
Events hosted by RSI, In-Person American Institutions Network, Governance, Restoring the First Branch

Time for an Upgrade: Getting Better Tech for Congress

R Street Institute Oct 8, 2019
News American Institutions Network, Democratic Institutions, Federal Government Affairs, Political Civility

Administration’s whistleblower process must not fall victim to the president’s impeachment inquiry

Aubrey Neal Sept 25, 2019
News American Institutions Network, Democratic Institutions, Federal Government Affairs, Political Civility

President of the United States enlists personal lawyer to work with foreign leader to gather intel on political opponents

Aubrey Neal Sept 25, 2019
News American Institutions Network, Democratic Institutions, Federal Government Affairs, Political Civility

President of the United States enlists U.S. attorney general for private campaign work in partnership with foreign leader to gather intel on political opponent

Aubrey Neal Sept 25, 2019
News American Institutions Network, Federal Government Affairs, Governance, Restoring the First Branch

Over 64% of congressional members have never participated in proper budget processes.

Aubrey Neal Aug 26, 2019
News American Institutions Network, Federal Government Affairs, Political Civility

This Land is Our Land: America’s Diversity is One of its Greatest Strengths, Especially in Congress.

Aubrey Neal July 16, 2019
News American Institutions Network, Democratic Institutions, Federal Government Affairs

Senate Sets Record for Least Number of Amendment Votes Taken Before August Recess

Aubrey Neal July 15, 2019

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