Democracy for All Project
The Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Gallup have launched the Democracy for All Project, a landmark national survey and research initiative exploring how Americans perceive and experience democracy. By amplifying voices from all backgrounds and examining perceptions of inclusion, fairness and opportunity, this project seeks to identify solutions to strengthen democratic engagement and bridge divides.
The People's Role in American Democracy
The Democracy for All Project, a partnership of the Kettering Foundation and Gallup, is the most extensive annual study of how Americans experience democracy. This second report draws from the views of more than 20,000 adults nationwide, examining citizen involvement, barriers to participation, the role of social media and information, and the impact of civic education.
What Americans Are Saying
- Only 25% of Americans say the people's role in the democratic process is working well, while 37% say it is working poorly.
- About one-third (35%) believe ordinary citizens have at least a moderate amount of power to create change in the nation; nearly as many (33%) say they have very little or almost none.
- 31% have actively participated in organizations aimed at improving community conditions in the past year; another 36% say they haven't but have wanted to.
- 74% of Americans report multiple barriers to getting involved in causes they care about.
- Americans with both formal and informal civic education are more than twice as likely as those with little or no civic education to have volunteered in the past 12 months (42% vs. 20%, respectively).
The Participation Gap
The study reveals significant divides by financial situation, age and community connection. Americans who are struggling financially, younger adults and those with weak ties to their local community face the greatest barriers to participation. Yet some of these same groups — including young adults and those who feel targeted due to race, gender or other characteristics — volunteer at rates comparable to other Americans, despite reporting far more obstacles.
Why This Matters
As Kettering Foundation President Sharon L. Davies notes, “Democracy cannot be fully realized without the commitment and participation of all.” Gallup Chairman Jim Clifton adds, “Our promise is to provide the most accurate current trends of the state of American democracy, including a deeper understanding of its meaning, from the very voice of the citizens themselves.”
Sample & Methodology
Survey of 20,338 U.S. adults (July-August 2025)
Margin of sampling error: ±0.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level
Download Past Kettering Foundation-Gallup Reports
-
Democracy for All Project: Is Democracy Working?
Subscribe to Our Research
Sign up to receive email updates about our latest global analytics work, including insights from our survey research and polling around the world.