Constrain Executive Abuse - Build state law and litigation capacity to check federal overreach
Protect Civic Space - Enable communities to organize, report, and advocate without coercive suppression
Policymaker Action Checklist
1) Pass a "Democracy Defense Package"
Enact a State Voting Rights Act - Include vote dilution protections, preclearance-style review for high-risk jurisdictions, strong private right of action, and fast-track remedies
Adopt election administration protections - Fund election security; set clear, nonpartisan standards; protect election officials from intimidation; lock in transparent post-election processes
Add ballot measure protection - Include anti-subversion guardrails if your state has initiatives/referenda (clear signature rules, limits on legislative sabotage, transparent ballot language processes), because weakening direct democracy has become a known tactic
2) Build State Capacity to Block Federal Overreach
Stand up an AG-led rapid litigation + comms unit - Design it to join multistate actions quickly (shared pleadings, amicus pipelines, expert declarations, unified public messaging)
Pre-authorize rapid response appropriations - Set up outside counsel contracting so lawsuits and injunction requests can happen in days, not months (States United, Lessons from the States in 2025, documenting fast injunction outcomes in coordinated state challenges)
Prepare for National Guard / federalization conflicts - Clarify state executive processes, documentation requirements, and coordination with local leaders; 2025 litigation examples show courts can block or limit deployments when states challenge them (States United, Lessons from the States in 2025)
3) Protect Civic Space (Media, NGOs, Whistleblowers)
Expand shield-law style protections - Move beyond health care into other domains where cross-state/federal pressure can chill lawful activity (data confidentiality, limits on in-state cooperation with out-of-state investigations, protections for providers/clients)
Strengthen anti-SLAPP and public records protections - Enable investigative journalism and watchdogs to function under pressure (Brookings flags civic/media space as a pillar that authoritarians target)
Create statutory protections for state employees and contractors - Protect those who report political interference, retaliation, or corruption (anti-corruption and rule-of-law pillars)
4) Reduce Corruption and Capture Risks
Tighten disclosure and procurement rules - Reduce preferential contracting networks and dark-money influence (Brookings highlights regulating money in politics and anti-corruption standards as essential to trust)
Draft trigger laws - If state constitutional constraints limit current reform scope, pre-build reforms that take effect if federal doctrine changes (a proven strategy Brennan Center highlights, used heavily by other movements)
5) Counter Disinformation and AI-Enabled Electoral Manipulation
Use state regulatory and procurement power - Require transparency and security standards for election-related vendors; fund media literacy and public-interest communications; coordinate with local election officials on incident response
Treat disinformation as an ecosystem problem - Address platform policies + public comms + trusted local messengers; Brookings calls out disinformation/AI as a core pillar requiring state-level action when federal action is uncertain
Implementation Guidance
Implementation Priorities
Use the Brookings "Seven Pillars" as your bill + budget map - Each pillar becomes a legislative section, an agency owner, metrics, and a budget line
Pair every new statutory protection with enforcement infrastructure - Include an enforcement office (AG/IG), a funding stream, standing for residents, and a fast timeline for courts to act (injunction-ready design)
Build a bipartisan "rule of law coalition" - Use message discipline: States United's 2025 lessons emphasize that broad majorities already support separation of powers and compliance with court orders; they often just need clear signals about what's normal and who is defending it
Primary Sources & Resources
Brookings — Democracy Playbook 2025 (PDF)
The 7-pillar framework + concrete best practices for elections, rule of law, anti-corruption, civic space, disinfo, etc.