IDEA's U.S. programs focus on bridging the gap between citizens and elected officials through scientifically tested deliberative engagements. Our flagship initiative, Connecting to Congress, fosters meaningful, bipartisan discussions between citizens and their Members of Congress.
In collaboration with the Center for Human Resources Research (CHRR) at OSU, the Deliberative Citizens Panel project works to create a representative panel of citizens interested in participating in Deliberative Town Halls. By reducing the per-project costs for all users, this initiative aims to bring deliberative engagement to more people.
We also focus on engaging the next generation through the Connecting Classrooms to Congress project. This program offers high school students a unique opportunity to study a pressing national issue and then meet with their sitting Member of Congress in a Deliberative Town Hall, creating a direct and informed dialogue between youth and their representatives.
Connecting to Congress (C2C)
IDEA’s flagship U.S. initiative creates direct, deliberative engagement between Members of Congress and a representative cross-section of constituents. Its core activity, the Deliberative Town Hall (DTH), invites authentic, non-partisan conversations. Research shows DTHs increase approval, trust, and civic participation.
Deliberative Citizens Panel
In partnership with CHRR at OSU, IDEA is developing a citizen panel for ongoing deliberative engagement.
Hosted within the American Population Panel, it reduces recruitment costs and connects over 49,000 volunteer members with public-facing research and civic forums.
Connecting Classrooms to Congress (CCC)
CCC is a collaboration of faculty in political science and education at IDEA, Columbia University, and the University of California, Riverside, and high schools in Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Washington, and California. The project developed and tested a web-based platform that enables high school students to study a pressing political issue and then discuss that issue with their Member of Congress in a Deliberative Town Hall.
Connecting to Congress (C2C)
IDEA’s flagship U.S. initiative creates direct, deliberative engagement between Members of Congress and a representative cross-section of constituents. Its core activity, the Deliberative Town Hall (DTH), invites authentic, non-partisan conversations. Research shows DTHs increase approval, trust, and civic participation.
Deliberative Citizens Panel
In partnership with CHRR at OSU, IDEA is developing a citizen panel for ongoing deliberative engagement.
Hosted within the American Population Panel, it reduces recruitment costs and connects over 49,000 volunteer members with public-facing research and civic forums.
Connecting Classrooms to Congress (CCC)
CCC is a collaboration of faculty in political science and education at IDEA, Columbia University, and the University of California, Riverside, and high schools in Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Washington, and California. The project developed and tested a web-based platform that enables high school students to study a pressing political issue and then discuss that issue with their Member of Congress in a Deliberative Town Hall.