Founded in 2021, the State Democracy Research Initiative is a leading source of nonpartisan research and expertise on state-level democracy, state constitutions, and state government institutions—subjects too often neglected in legal and policy circles. We generate urgently needed ideas that undergird front-line efforts to preserve and strengthen state democracy around the country.
The State Democracy Research Initiative seeks to advance research and dialogue on state-level democracy, government institutions, and public law across the nation. By focusing on the states, which traditionally receive less attention than the federal government in legal circles, the Initiative serves as a much-needed resource for academics, courts, policymakers, advocates, and the public.
Our work shapes dialogue regarding state-level democracy and helps spread pro-democratic practices and policies from one state to the next. In practice, this takes the form of original academic research, white papers, explainers, amicus briefs, interactive websites, informal consultations, conferences, and public-facing events. We speak to a number of audiences, including academics, courts, policymakers, advocates, journalists, and more.
Get to know the researchers and experts who contribute daily to SDRI.
