Individual Factor Movements
-3
-2
-1
0
+1
+2
Key Developments
Democracy Trends Dashboards
These interactive US Democracy Dashboards track weekly changes across 39 key factors, organized into 13 dimensions, that influence democratic accountability in the United States.
How to Read the Dashboard:
Green cards show dimensions that improved during the week
Orange cards indicate minor to moderate declines in democratic vitality
Red cards signal significant democratic deterioration
Grey cards represent stable dimensions with minimal change
Tap any colored dimension card to explore the specific factors driving change and view the news stories behind each rating. The factor charts show individual movements on a scale from -3 (substantial decline) to +3 (substantial improvement).
Each weekly analysis draws from comprehensive monitoring of 15 news sources across the political spectrum, providing an objective, data-driven view of US democratic health trends.
Powered by RealTime DemTrends - Real-time analysis of democratic accountability trends
Democracy Dashboard
Week of December 29, 2025 - January 4, 2026
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
7
Signaling Progress
19
Signaling Concern
13
Stable
Legal System
✅ Minor Improvement (+3)
Courts actively checking executive overreach through constitutional enforcement
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Improvement (+2)
Citizens exercising democratic rights through peaceful assembly and coordinated political action
Party Politics
✅ Minor Improvement (+1)
Third-party development and democratic socialist electoral success demonstrating party system plurality
Modern Open Government
✅ Minor Improvement (+1)
Major transparency advances with Epstein files legislation despite implementation challenges
Economic Ecosystem
✅ Minor Improvement (+1)
$50 billion rural healthcare investment and liberal markets resilient despite tariff threats
Media Infrastructure
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Press freedom erosion balanced against editorial independence demonstrations
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Decline (-2)
Registration irregularities and transfer legitimacy concerns despite peaceful transitions
Constitutional Balance
⚠️ Minor Decline (-2)
Executive precedent violations offset by Supreme Court blocking National Guard deployments
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Decline (-1)
Civic culture fragmentation and human rights violations in ICE custody
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Decline (-1)
Service delivery challenges and crisis preparedness concerns offset by some improvements
Executive Operations
🚨 Moderate Decline (-3)
Systematic agency politicization and federal-state financial coercion
Sovereign Relations
🚨 Moderate Decline (-3)
Venezuela operation damaged Latin American alliances despite positive Israel/Ukraine engagement
Social Dynamics
🚨 Moderate Decline (-2)
Minnesota fraud scandal escalated to ethnic targeting; NYC inauguration polarization
Other Dimensions
→ Stable
Several dimensions showing minimal change with routine activities
Democracy Dashboard
Week of December 22-28, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
6
Signaling Progress
18
Signaling Concern
15
Stable
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Federal courts consistently enforced constitutional standards, blocking illegal actions and requiring due process protections
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Strong civic engagement through volunteer traditions and political mobilization across the spectrum
Constitutional Balance of Power
⚖️ Mixed Signals (-1)
Supreme Court blocked Chicago deployment (+1) but circumvention followed via executive precedent (-2)
Economic Ecosystem
⚖️ Mixed Signals (-1)
Strong GDP growth and market performance (+1) offset by offshore wind halts and academic freedom pressures (-2)
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Declining inter-party civility with blocked bipartisan bills and heated exchanges
Social Dynamics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Anti-Somali targeting, economic inequality persisting despite GDP growth
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Redistricting battles intensifying ahead of 2026 midterms with dark money flows in state races
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Press freedom faced government visa restrictions, license threats, and AI-generated propaganda
Executive Operations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Record ICE detention levels, "make raids go viral" strategies, mass ambassador recalls
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Human rights enforcement concerns including deportations without due process, targeting of diverse voices
Functional Governance
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Holiday storm emergency responses tested, offshore wind halts, campus security failures
Sovereign Relations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Constitutional circumvention through jurisdiction-shopping, allied relationships strained over Greenland
Modern Open Government
→ Stable (0)
All three factors stable with no significant movement this week
Democracy Dashboard
Week of December 15-21, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
3
Signaling Progress
20
Signaling Concern
16
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Citizens exercised democratic rights through peaceful assembly and community organizing against ICE enforcement
Modern Open Government
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Tech Force AI initiative advanced modernization but transparency failures on boat strike video and Epstein files
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Campaign finance influenced by billionaires despite courts identifying redistricting violations
Legal System
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Federal courts enforced some constitutional constraints but judicial independence threatened by Wisconsin judge conviction
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Academic freedom under pressure and crisis response capacity absent during multi-state disasters
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
State resistance to federal authority offset by federal enforcement proceeding regardless
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Both parties demonstrated organizational dysfunction - Democrats suppressed election autopsy, Republicans experiencing factional control battles
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Political exploitation of tragedy, domestic terrorism threats, and economic pressures on middle-class families
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Human rights violations in immigration enforcement and diversity rollbacks across government institutions
Media Infrastructure
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Press freedom faced direct legal pressure through $10B BBC lawsuit and FCC independence challenges
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Academic freedom under coordinated pressure and tariffs distorting markets while choking small manufacturers
Executive Operations
🚨 Significant Concern (-4)
Federal agencies directed toward partisan objectives with workforce disruption and political targeting
Constitutional Balance of Power
🚨 Significant Concern (-4)
Executive precedent expanded through Venezuelan blockade and legislative oversight capacity significantly weakened
Democracy Dashboard
Week of December 8-14, 2025 • Policies to Restrict Citizen Participation Gain Ground
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
5
Signaling Progress
19
Signaling Concern
15
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Civil society oversight and popular mobilization demonstrating healthy democratic accountability
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Federal courts demonstrating active constitutional enforcement with improved access to justice
Modern Open Government
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Government transparency advancing through Epstein document releases and DHS immigration data disclosure
Electoral Processes
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Federal oversight efforts and redistricting rejections balanced against pardons undermining election accountability
Constitutional Balance of Power
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Executive departures from constitutional norms through unauthorized military actions and state law preemption
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Inter-party deliberation limited by partisan gridlock despite some bipartisan cooperation on civil service protections
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Service delivery challenges with healthcare subsidy debates and regulatory framework shifts under executive direction
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Press freedom facing systematic challenges through employment pressure, political attacks, and media ownership concentration
Social Dynamics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Social cohesion strained through campus antisemitism and immigration enforcement tensions; economic inequality showing competing pressures
Economic Ecosystem
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Academic freedom challenged by campus violence while economic security faces trade policy vulnerabilities
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Inclusion mechanisms weakened across all sectors; civic culture stressed by identity-based conflicts
Sovereign Relations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Federal-state redistricting battles, AI regulation preemption, and international cooperation challenges
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Oversight bodies facing political pressure; systematic agency politicization across federal departments
Democracy Dashboard
Week of December 1-7, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
2
Signaling Progress
19
Signaling Concern
18
Stable
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Federal courts actively enforced constitutional constraints, blocking warrantless arrests and illegal funding cuts
Modern Open Government
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Epstein grand jury documents released, enforcement statistics published enabling oversight
Civic Participation
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Community organizing and labor victories balanced against pepper-spraying of elected official during protests
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Social Security proposes 50% field office visit cuts, national parks eliminate MLK Day and Juneteenth free entry
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
President demanded partisan loyalty in exchange for clemency, publicly attacking pardoned Democrat for not switching parties
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Supreme Court approved Texas gerrymandering adding 5 GOP seats, coordinated multi-state redistricting under presidential pressure
Economic Ecosystem
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Northwestern paid $75M to end federal probes, China maintains critical mineral dominance, affordability crisis worsens
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Voice of America overseas offices closing, Pentagon press restrictions prompt NYT lawsuit, bias tip line launched
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
USDA threatens SNAP withholding from blue states, federal operations proceed without local consultation
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Venezuela strikes without congressional authorization, controversial pardons including drug trafficking conviction
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
National Guard shooting, bomb threats against Senate offices, antisemitic incidents, partisan institutional distrust at record levels
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Multiple agencies serving partisan objectives, immigration judges fired, Federal Reserve chair search politicized
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Warrantless immigration arrests, ethnic targeting of Somali community, LGBTQ prison protections eliminated
Democracy Dashboard
Week of November 24-30, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
3
Signaling Progress
23
Signaling Concern
13
Stable
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Courts dismissed politically motivated prosecutions, demonstrating judicial independence and constitutional review
Civic Participation
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Citizens mobilized through protests and boycotts while civil society oversight faced pressure
Constitutional Balance of Power
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Congressional oversight functioning but Venezuela military operations and executive precedent concerns persist
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Georgia 2020 case dismissed while multi-state redistricting battles create electoral uncertainty
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Medicare premium increases, USPS service concerns, and asylum freeze crisis response raise service delivery questions
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Presidential verbal attacks on reporters, BBC lawsuit pressure, and AP access restrictions affect press independence
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
FBI investigations of "Seditious Six," MTG resignation pressure, and partisan blame for National Guard shooting
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Continued National Guard deployment in DC, SNAP benefit litigation, mixed international cooperation signals
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
National Guard shooting, ICE-citizen tensions, and economic inequality concerns affect democratic foundations
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Northwestern settlement demonstrates federal pressure on universities while tariff and rare earth vulnerabilities persist
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
DOJ supporting partisan redistricting, Pentagon investigating Senator Kelly, and 317,000 federal jobs shed
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Asylum freeze, competing Thanksgiving narratives, and Pentagon-Scouting America severance affect civic norms
Modern Open Government
→ Stable (0)
Trump financial disclosure transparency functioning while Epstein files pressure continues
Democracy Trends Dashboard
Week of November 17-23, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👉 Tap any dimension card to see detailed factor analysis and news articles 👈
5
Signaling Progress
21
Signaling Concern
13
Stable
Dimensions: 2 Progress • 2 Mixed • 8 Concern • 1 Stable
Modern Open Government
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Congressional transparency action on Epstein files and continued data releases demonstrate institutional effectiveness.
Sovereign Relations
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Trump-Mamdani meeting showed improved federal-state consultation alongside effective legal resistance and international cooperation.
Civic Participation
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Robust civic mobilization across multiple issues balanced by government pressure on civil society organizations.
Legal System
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Strong judicial oversight blocking illegal actions offset by access to justice concerns and prosecutorial misconduct.
Economic Ecosystem
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Trade policy adjustments and mixed economic signals offset by academic freedom pressures and research funding cuts.
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
FEMA leadership instability, service delivery challenges, and emergency management concerns reflect governance strain.
Media Infrastructure
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Direct presidential hostility toward journalists, broadcast license threats, and regulatory probes against media outlets.
Electoral Processes
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Redistricting battles, fraud allegations, campaign finance violations, and reduced federal election security monitoring.
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Widespread agency politicization, political direction over institutional missions, and pressure on independent oversight bodies.
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Executive precedent violations, military actions without authorization, and legislative dysfunction despite some judicial checks.
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
8,000% increase in threats to federal officers, community tensions from enforcement operations, and widening healthcare disparities.
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Systematic rollbacks of diversity policies, redefinition of civil rights priorities, and declining civic unity across geographic divides.
Party Politics
→ Stable (0)
Cross-party tensions continued alongside bipartisan legislation on Epstein files and shutdown recovery measures.
Democracy Dashboard
Week of November 10-16, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
2
Signaling Progress
17
Signaling Concern
20
Stable
Democracy Dashboard
Week of November 3-9, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
2
Signaling Progress
10
Signaling Concern
1
Stable
Electoral Processes
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Electoral transitions proceeded smoothly with successful elections demonstrating healthy democratic processes
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Federal courts enforced constitutional limits against government overreach demonstrating judicial independence
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
High civic participation with extensive voter mobilization and strong turnout demonstrating robust democratic engagement
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
International relationships showed strain with unilateral approaches including military action threats and G20 boycott
Constitutional Balance of Power
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Congressional dysfunction with record-breaking shutdown and paralyzed negotiations despite growing economic costs
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Institutional pressure on media organizations and misinformation proliferating around critical government programs
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Inter-party relations deteriorated with government channels engaging in partisan trolling rather than good-faith negotiation
Modern Open Government
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Government data transparency disrupted as shutdown prevented publication of key economic indicators including jobs report
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Immigration enforcement continued with enhanced surveillance and refugee program cuts prioritizing applications by race
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Agencies directed to serve political purposes with Education Department partisan messaging ruled unconstitutional and FBI facing retaliatory changes
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Trade conflicts reshaping economic security with Canada's economy buckling under tariffs and market freedom constrained by dysfunction
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Social tensions escalated with political violence normalized and SNAP crisis creating hardship for 42 million Americans
Functional Governance
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
Federal service delivery disrupted with SNAP cuts, unpaid workers attending food drives, and essential functions compromised
Democracy Dashboard
Week of October 27-November 2, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
4
Signaling Progress
20
Signaling Concern
15
Stable
Democracy Dashboard
Week of October 20-26, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
4
Signaling Progress
15
Signaling Concern
20
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Civil society pursuing legal challenges and grassroots coordination while creative protest tactics demonstrate robust democratic participation
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Courts independently reviewing executive actions across jurisdictions with mixed outcomes based on legal merits
Sovereign Relations
→ Stable (0)
State autonomy demonstrated through legal challenges offset by contentious international diplomacy
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Partisan redistricting battles escalating with both parties pursuing electoral advantages through aggressive map manipulation
Social Dynamics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Endemic inflammatory rhetoric and identity-based accusations replacing substantive policy debate across political spectrum
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Civil rights protections challenged and educational content under pressure with immigration enforcement raising constitutional concerns
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Tariff policies creating market distortions, ranchers opposing Argentine beef imports, companies warning of price increases
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Executive testing boundaries with Guard deployments and self-compensation claims as Congress fails constitutional duties
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Agencies used for political purposes, Pentagon restricting congressional access while federal workforce stressed
Functional Governance
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
Government shutdown Day 24 creating cascading failures: 41 million facing SNAP cutoffs, flight delays, nuclear security compromised
Media Infrastructure
→ Stable (0)
No significant developments in media freedom, journalist safety, or information integrity this week
Party Politics
→ Stable (0)
Legislative paralysis continues but no significant changes in party dynamics this week
Modern Open Government
→ Stable (-1)
Digital democracy concerns with platform transparency offset by stable open data practices
Democracy Dashboard
Week of October 13-19, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
4
Signaling Progress
18
Signaling Concern
17
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+3)
No Kings protests drew millions while unions and civil society mobilized effectively
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Courts blocked layoffs and deployments, though justice access remains mixed
Economic Ecosystem
⚖️ Mixed Reviews (0)
Liberal markets offset by trade war pressures and mixed university signals
Modern Open Government
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Social Security delays and data privacy concerns
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Louisiana moves to change election schedule ahead of Supreme Court ruling
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Ten failed Senate votes reveal partisan blame-shifting over compromise
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Gaza/Ukraine diplomatic collapses alongside federal-state Guard tensions
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Shutdown degrades services, FEMA capacity, and regulatory oversight
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Executive spending memo and legislative gridlock strain separation of powers
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Violent ICE tactics and due process concerns alongside social cohesion threats
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
Terrorism charges, violence polling, and unequal shutdown impacts strain communities
Executive Operations
🚨 Significant Concern (-6)
Bolton indictment, mass layoffs, and systematic agency politicization
Media Infrastructure
→ Stable (0)
No significant changes to media freedom or information integrity
Democracy Dashboard
Week of October 6-12, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
2
Signaling Progress
20
Signaling Concern
17
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Civil society oversight and popular mobilization demonstrated democratic accountability capacity despite institutional pressure
Legal System
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Courts demonstrated constitutional review capacity with contradictory rulings, judicial independence under rhetorical pressure
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Federal intervention in state authority offset by diplomatic breakthrough with Israel-Hamas peace deal
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Journalist detentions during enforcement coverage, federal pressure on Pentagon press access
Electoral Processes
🔸 Moderate Concern (-2)
Multiple concurrent challenges to electoral integrity from mid-decade redistricting to voting access restrictions
Party Politics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-2)
Complete breakdown in inter-party cooperation led directly to government shutdown
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-2)
Social divisions along identity lines, vulnerable populations facing access challenges
Modern Open Government
🔸 Moderate Concern (-2)
Data integrity concerns, surveillance of civic participation, and systematic information withholding
Functional Governance
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Service delivery challenges from shutdown while major environmental and health regulatory rollbacks advanced
Democratic Norms
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Human rights enforcement concerns with immigration operations and targeting of Black women leaders
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Strategic confrontation with China escalated, massive farmer bailouts replacing market mechanisms
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Threats to invoke Insurrection Act, legislative failure to fund government, and mixed judicial signals
Executive Operations
🚨 Significant Concern (-5)
Systematic agency politicization, mass federal workforce cuts, and political influence over oversight bodies
Democracy Dashboard
Week of September 29-October 5, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
3
Signaling Progress
15
Signaling Concern
21
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Citizens exercised democratic rights through protests and legal mobilization, while labor unions maintained accountability functions
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Federal courts blocked executive overreach across multiple domains, maintaining constitutional checks on government power
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Federal authorities demanded voter data from eight states while redistricting battles threatened fair representation
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Federal deployment to Portland without state consent, unilateral military strikes on Venezuela, funding weaponization against blue states
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Week-long government shutdown disrupted federal services, with 750,000 workers furloughed and aviation safety inspections delayed
Economic Ecosystem
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Tariff policies distorted markets, universities faced federal pressure over political compliance, Venezuela relations deteriorated
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Civil rights enforcement faced pressure, diversity policies became justification for funding cuts, church shooting threatened social trust
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Congress failed fundamental funding responsibility with sustained shutdown; House left town until Oct 14 without resolution
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-6)
150,000+ federal workers ended service in historic mass exodus, while agencies increasingly served partisan objectives
Media Infrastructure
→ Stable (0)
No significant developments in press freedom, media plurality, or information integrity this week
Party Politics
→ Stable (0)
Routine party operations continued with no major changes to party development or system plurality
Modern Open Government
→ Stable (0)
Standard government operations maintained with no significant changes to transparency or digital systems
Social Dynamics
→ Stable (0)
No major shifts in social cohesion, economic inequality, or horizontal equity beyond routine developments
Democracy Dashboard
Week of September 22-28, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
2
Signaling Progress
18
Signaling Concern
19
Stable
Economic Ecosystem
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Robust private sector with Nvidia's $100B OpenAI investment and upward economic growth
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Courts blocked Trump actions including offshore wind halt
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Federal involvement in state redistricting with Trump-backed maps
Modern Open Government
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
USDA canceled food insecurity survey amid data quality concerns
Civic Participation
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Civil society targeting offset strong mobilization; antifa designation may chill dissent
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Broadcast affiliates boycotted Kimmel despite reinstatement
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Trump canceled shutdown negotiations amid record retirements
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
School districts lost $65M over DEI; Kirk memorial merged religion and politics
Constitutional Balance of Power
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Antifa designated terrorist group; Venezuela strikes without authorization
Sovereign Relations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Federal troops to Memphis/Portland; Colombian visa revoked
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
Dallas ICE shooting killed detainee with partisan blame cycle
Executive Operations
🚨 Significant Concern (-7)
Court allowed FTC firing; 8 IGs terminated; 100K+ workers resigned
Functional Governance
→ Stable (0)
Routine operations with no significant changes
Democracy Dashboard
Week of September 15-21, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
2
Signaling Progress
18
Signaling Concern
19
Stable
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Federal and state courts demonstrated continued effectiveness as constitutional checks on government power, blocking executive overreach while maintaining judicial independence despite political pressure
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Citizens exercised democratic rights through large-scale peaceful mobilization across the political spectrum, from Charlie Kirk memorials to voter drives to democracy marches
Modern Open Government
→ Mixed Signals (0)
Contradictory transparency trends with expanded surveillance data collection offset by restricted investigative access and disrupted public health tracking
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Electoral processes functioning but with escalating manipulation tactics including nationalized redistricting and election deniers securing local board positions
Economic Ecosystem
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Government intervention in markets increased while campus speech restrictions affected research funding, though some positive initiatives continue
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Deep polarization following Kirk assassination with competing visions of unity while civic education becomes increasingly partisan rather than pluralistic
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Federal program disruptions affected health and education service delivery while regulatory changes created market confusion across multiple sectors
Social Dynamics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Charlie Kirk assassination highlighted deep fractures in American social cohesion extending across political, religious, and identity lines
Media Infrastructure
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Physical threats against journalists escalated alongside government regulatory pressure, creating dual assault on press freedom through violence and institutional intimidation
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Immigration enforcement operations generated international scrutiny while free speech restrictions escalated following the Kirk assassination
Executive Operations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Federal agencies increasingly coordinated with political objectives while oversight bodies faced ongoing pressure despite court protections
Constitutional Balance of Power
🚨 Significant Concern (-5)
Massive expansion of presidential emergency powers and systematic undermining of legislative deliberation through nuclear option confirmations and emergency deployments
Sovereign Relations
🚨 Significant Concern (-5)
Federal military intervention in local law enforcement represents systematic erosion of federalism while foreign adversaries exploit political divisions through disinformation campaigns
Democracy Dashboard
Week of September 8-14, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
6
Signaling Progress
18
Signaling Concern
15
Stable
Functional Governance
✅ Minor Progress (+2)
Government crisis response systems and regulatory oversight functioned effectively despite broader institutional pressures
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Active citizen mobilization including Free DC organizing and memorial vigils demonstrating civic engagement despite institutional pressure
Modern Open Government
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Congressional transparency efforts succeeded in obtaining government documents, demonstrating effective oversight mechanisms
Party Politics
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Congressional civility deteriorated with partisan tensions disrupting basic legislative courtesy during national mourning
Legal System
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Mixed outcomes with courts blocking executive overreach while barriers to justice access increased for vulnerable populations
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Trump-backed redistricting in Missouri created additional GOP seats through gerrymandering outside normal cycles
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Large-scale immigration enforcement affecting due process while restrictions on transgender rights and diversity programs expanded
Constitutional Balance of Power
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Mixed signals with effective legislative oversight but concerning Supreme Court expansion of executive enforcement powers
Sovereign Relations
⚠️ Minor Concern (-3)
Mixed federal-local authority conflicts with some local resistance but concerning federal override patterns testing constitutional limits
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Charlie Kirk assassination represents significant breakdown in democratic norms with political violence becoming routine feature of American life
Media Infrastructure
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
AI-generated misinformation flooded platforms rapidly after major events while journalist safety concerns emerged from political violence
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
Academic freedom restrictions combined with economic partnerships facing pressure from enforcement priorities and strategic competition
Executive Operations
🔸 Moderate Concern (-5)
Supreme Court enabled political removal of independent agency commissioners while federal agencies engaged in politicized enforcement priorities
Democracy Dashboard
Week of September 1-7, 2025
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
39 Factors • 13 Dimensions
👆 Tap any colored dimension to explore details
5
Signaling Progress
15
Signaling Concern
19
Stable
Civic Participation
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Citizens engaged across generations in Labor Day protests, DC autonomy rallies, and campus activism
Legal System
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Federal courts effectively blocked unlawful deportations and executive overreach through constitutional review
Modern Open Government
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Major Epstein document releases demonstrate effective congressional transparency
Party Politics
✅ Minor Progress (+1)
Strong bipartisan cooperation on Epstein files, RFK Jr. concerns, and stock trading reforms
Sovereign Relations
⚖️ Mixed Signals (0)
Local autonomy successes balance Shanghai Cooperation Organization rival coordination
Functional Governance
⚠️ Minor Concern (-1)
Service delivery disruptions in health agencies despite stable crisis response
Constitutional Balance of Power
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Unprecedented executive order pace with limited judicial constitutional review
Electoral Processes
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Mid-decade redistricting battles challenge traditional electoral fairness norms
Democratic Norms
⚠️ Minor Concern (-2)
Angola Prison detention center and massive workplace raids raise constitutional concerns
Economic Ecosystem
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
China-Russia-India coordination and Google antitrust ruling limitations challenge market competition
Media Infrastructure
🔸 Moderate Concern (-3)
Government data disputes, Wikipedia conflicts, and international speech restrictions pressure press freedom
Social Dynamics
🔸 Moderate Concern (-4)
Hate crimes, economic inequality protests, and declining faith in American Dream amid workforce tensions
Executive Operations
🚨 Significant Concern (-5)
500K federal workers lose union rights while agencies serve increasingly political functions