What is the James Madison Project?

 

The James Madison Project is an ambitious, multiyear experiment that seeks to reclaim the centrality of We the People of The United States in public discourse and focus of government policy. Furthermore, the project’s goal is to explore and invigorate the reasons for our government: “in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”. 

 

Why the James Madison Project?

 

As Americans, We the People, continue to be  troubled by an array of problems facing our nation and the failure of the political system to address them. Trust in our governing institutions has reached historic lows as Congress’ approval ratings sinks into the single digits. Gridlock and hyper-partisanship have paralyzed our governing bodies, resulting in the least productive congress in recent history and a political climate that makes problem solving all but impossible. The public’s voice is increasingly drowned out as political leaders become ever more dependent on a relatively small group of large donors and special interests.

 

The James Madison Project Vision

 

We envision a process that brings about a “modern” understanding of human nature and the constitution, provides a framework and tools to leverage technology and scientific insights, embrace crowdsourcing and other collaborative activities to address challenges in our society. The Project is inspired by the legacy of James Madison, often referred to as the “father of the constitution”.   James Madison’s contribution to our evolving nation and the structure and the nature of the government was unparalleled. His efforts leading up to the constitutional convention, during and the ratification process were crucial for creating the structure that allowed the US to persist for over 200 years. The Project is motivated by Madison’s approach to the challenges of his time.

 

 

Take Part with The James Madison Project

 

We invite anyone who shares our vision and mission to take part in our work, suggest topics, posing questions, writing posts, and most importantly, contributing to the conversation. With so much at stake for our nation, it’s time to stop kvetching and start acting.