Citizens are not apathetic—they’re frustrated
IDEA helps policymakers design engagement that is effective, actionable, and grounded in research. Our work shows Americans have not disengaged from democracy; they want better ways to be heard, and they participate when engagement feels fair and meaningful.
IDEA works with elected officials and policymakers at all levels of government, from Members of Congress to mayors, to translate democratic research into practical engagement models.
The challenge
Many Americans believe Congress has grown disconnected, yet most remain open to engagement if they believe their input matters. But traditional town halls or social media engagement often reach the same group of voices, promote disagreement rather than discussion, and leave both citizens and policymakers frustrated.
The problem is not public apathy. It is how engagement is designed. IDEA develops and evaluates nonpartisan engagement models like Deliberative Town Halls that help policymakers hear from more representative groups of constituents while maintaining efficiency and clarity. Deliberative Town Halls have been shown to not only change constituents’ opinions on policy, but to increase trust and approval in the elected official and their institution. Our work focuses on improving process, not advocating policy outcomes.
For almost two decades, IDEA has combined academic rigor with hands-on experience designing and testing innovative constituent engagement models for the real world. Lawmakers work with IDEA because our research is credible, our methods are practical, and our work is trusted across partisan lines.
As a university-based institute, IDEA brings independence, methodological transparency, and a focus on long-term institutional improvement. We do not simply study democratic engagement; we help institutions do it better.
Why work with IDEA?
With more than fifteen years of peer-reviewed research and field experience, IDEA brings academic rigor, nonpartisan credibility, and practical design expertise. We help institutions engage the public more effectively, with minimal demands on staff time.
