Democratism Information

Democratism is an independent, nonpartisan organization working to stop the authoritarian takeover. We created the Restore the Constitution Act, model legislation that any state or local government can adopt to protect residents and uphold the Constitution when the federal government does not. The president has abandoned the Constitution, defying the laws of Congress, ignoring court rulings, and dismantling oversight. Congress and the federal courts have proven unable or unwilling to stop him. The most powerful institutions not yet under authoritarian control are state and local governments. State and local officials have taken an oath to support the Constitution. That duty does not disappear when the federal government abandons constitutional rule. STAT (Stop The Authoritarian Takeover) is Democratism's effort to equip state and local governments to protect their residents and restore legitimate constitutional governance. The Act provides a legal framework for states and localities to act in coordination with one another as the crisis evolves. It begins enforcement through three measures against those who carry out or aid the takeover: a private right of action in state court for anyone harmed, reaching federal officials and those acting on their behalf; Attorney General enforcement, allowing the Attorney General to bring it on behalf of the people; and gubernatorial regulatory powers, empowering the governor or chief executive to turn the jurisdiction's licensing, contracting, property and other regulatory powers against the same actors. A growing Catalog of Legislative Actions adds measures that plug into the Act's framework, from shielding educators from federal censorship to ensuring essential services the federal government withholds. Democratism was founded to advance electoral reform through the Democracy Decree. That work remains central to our long-term mission, but the current constitutional crisis demanded an immediate response.