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The American Promise Amendment

Americans are in a huge moment of possibility for profound reform, and in that we can find hope. In the midst of systemic failures—in our economy, society, government—American citizens are rising to the challenge of reshaping our democracy for the 21st century and beyond.

The American Promise Amendment will limit the influence of money in politics and ensure that we the people, rather than self-interested elites, control our destiny.
This vision for a more resilient democracy is the product of the bipartisan Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, convened by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, which devoted two years for study, research, and nearly 50 community meetings with hundreds of Americans from different demographic and political backgrounds across the nation.

Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century

Accepting the Challenge

A constitutional amendment’s role in the commission’s newly revealed vision for a more inclusive, effective and resilient democracy for the 21st century confirms the critical nature of the work of American Promise citizen leaders and partner organizations across the nation advancing the movement to limit the influence of money in politics.

“We have no time to waste,” the report concludes. “For love of freedom and equality, for love of country, for love of one another, and out of hope for a better future, we need to reclaim our bond.”

American Promise accepts this challenge. We invite all Americans to join us in declaring #ChallengeAccepted.

A large majority of Americans support limits on political spending, and American Promise encourages citizens of all ages, occupations, and political stripes to join the nonpartisan movement for the American Promise Amendment. American Promise has established a grassroots framework and resources for citizen leaders across the country working to advance in the amendment:

Join Us in Declaring #ChallengeAccepted!

 

The Report: Our Common Purpose

The commission’s report, Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century, outlines the crucial reforms needed to improve the resilience of our democracy by July 4, 2026, our nation’s 250th anniversary, in six broad strategy areas:

  • Equality of voice and representation
  • Empowerment of voters
  • Responsiveness of political institutions
  • Connectedness in and among communities
  • Civic information architecture that supports common purpose
  • A culture of commitment to American constitutional democracy and one another

The recommendation to ratify a constitutional amendment putting limits on campaign spending—work currently being coordinated by American Promise—is part of the first strategy, which focuses on giving American citizens equality in voice, choice, and representation, as well as more effective self-government.

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