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Democracy Slam 2015

 

On April 22, 2015, FairVote teamed up with American University’s Washington College of Law (WCL) and the American Constitution
Society for an action packed, one-day conference called “National Democracy Slam 2015.” Throughout the day, reformers, journalists, elected officials, and scholars explored 17 bold ideas for breaking partisan gridlock, ending gerrymandering, and improving America's elections and politics.

Participants included:

• Chuck Todd, Chief White House Correspondent, NBC

• Norm Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute

• Michael Li, Brennan Center for Justice

• Caroline Frederickson, American Constitution Society

• Jennifer Lawless, American University

• Mark Pocan, Congressman Representing WI-2

• FairVote staff, including Rob Richie

• and many more

Reforms were presented, rebutted, and debated with live polling of the audience (including those watching online) following each exchange. You can view National Democracy Slam 2015 in its entirety, visit the Washington College of Law's webcast page, and read associated papers for every proposal at NationalDemocracySlam.com.

Read more about FairVote’s Democracy Slam 2015:

Wrap-up Analysis, by Austin Plier

Event Agenda (pdf)

Full List of Conference Papers:

1. Reforming the Top Two System with RCV

   • Rob Richie, Reform Traditional and Top Two Primaries with RCV

   • Rob Richie, Top Four Primary with Ranked Choice Voting for US House

2. Campaign FInance Response to Citizens United

   • Jamie Raskin, A Shareholder Solution to Citizens United

   • Lisa Gilbert, Corporate Political Spending Disclosure at the SEC

3. Open Debates

   • Lee Hamilton and Vin Webster, Access for Third Candidate in Presidential Debates

4. The Voting Rights Act and Women’s Representation

   • Dania Korkor, Voting Rights Act Section 2

5. A Legal Standard to Address Gerrymandering Claims

   • Drew Spencer, (Mis)Understanding Gerrymandering

6. Mandatory Voting

   • William Galston, Telling Americans to Vote, or Else

7. National Popular Vote for President

   • Jamie Raskin, National Popular Vote Plan

   • John Koza, National Popular Vote Plan

   • Trent England, Bypass the Electoral College?

   • Trent England, States Would Lose Under NPV

8. Right to Vote Amendment

   • Mark Pocan and Keith Ellison, Right to Vote Amendment Would Guarantee Democratic Principles

9. Public Financing

   • Adam Lioz, Small Dollar Public Financing

10. Independent Redistricting

    • Dan Vicuna, Independent Redistricting and Polarization

    • Michael Li and Eric Petry, Independent Redistricting Commissions

11. Proportional Representation

    • Drew Spencer, Multi-Winner RCV

    • Rob Richie, Fair Representation Voting in Illinois

12. Top Two

    • Harry Kresky, Top Two Primaries

13. Ranked Choice Voting

    • Sarah John and Grace Ramsey, RCV Lessons from Civility Study

14. Legislative Rules for Collaborative Policymaking

    • Andrew Douglas, Collaborative Legislative Policymaking

15. Gender Parity

    • Cynthia Terrell, Women and Polarization