
The
American
People's Compact
A 16-Point Agenda for National Renewal
For too long, Americans have watched as politics puts power and profit before people and progress. Yet in every corner of our nation, we are bound by a common dream: that everyone—no matter where they live or who they are—can build a good life, care for their loved ones, and shape their own future. This compact reflects the will of the people: to work together, bridge divides, and renew the foundation of opportunity and trust for every community. United by shared values and guided by hope, we set forth these priorities to build a stronger, fairer, and more connected America for generations to come. May this compact serve as a practical guide for Americans and those who represent them, today and in the years ahead.
To support the APC and help make our shared vision a reality, sign your name below, share amongst your network, and contact your representatives to encourage them to adopt the APC.
*This Compact is intended as a starting point for national renewal and reflects a selection of the most pressing domestic priorities identified by the American public. It does not address foreign policy and is not intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive policy platform or enumeration of rights.
- 01
Strengthen the working class by expanding collective bargaining rights, making it easier for people to advocate for and access better pay and working conditions. Support small and local businesses to create good jobs and keep wealth in our communities, not in the hands of large corporations. Expand and modernize the Earned Income Tax Credit to boost take-home pay for working families, and invest in education, skills training, and affordable childcare. Expand programs that help families build savings and assets—such as matched savings accounts, children’s savings accounts, and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers—to improve long-term economic security and mobility. Fight inflation and rising costs to protect the value of hard- earned wages, ensuring regular Americans can not only get by, but truly get ahead.
- 02
Raise America’s educational standards to make our students globally competitive by investing in evidence-based teaching, more resources, and modern school facilities, regardless of zip code. Address the national teacher shortage with better pay, support, and recruitment—especially in rural and underserved communities. Re-examine school district funding formulas to close equity gaps. Address the school-to-prison pipeline by reforming disciplinary practices and redirecting resources to behavioral support services. Strengthen and expand college and career pathways. Uphold fact-based, secular curricula and teach American history fully and accurately, including the difficult chapters, so students understand our shared past and are prepared to shape a better future. Equip every student with strong logical reasoning, critical thinking, and reading skills—enabling them to analyze complex problems, distinguish fact from opinion, make sound judgments, and practice thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making for lifelong learning. Protect students’ right to read and learn free from censorship and book bans. Strengthen civic education so every student understands democracy, government, and their role as active citizens.
- 03
Modernize and strengthen America’s energy system by expanding and upgrading transmission infrastructure, deploying smart grid technology, and accelerating the transition to clean, reliable, and affordable energy sources. Invest in domestic manufacturing, workforce training, and supply chain resilience to create good jobs and secure the materials needed for a clean energy future. Lower utility bills and improve energy affordability by supporting energy efficiency, combatting energy monopolies, strengthening assistance programs, and ensuring all communities—including rural and underserved areas—have access to reliable power. Enhance grid resilience and cybersecurity to protect against extreme weather and cyber threats, while streamlining permitting and planning to speed up critical projects.
- 04
Rebuild public confidence by ending the influence of super PACs and corporate/special-interest lobbyists, increasing transparency, and ensuring our federal government serves all Americans—not just the powerful. Strengthen ethical standards and implement independent oversight for every branch. Institute term limits for judicial appointees and upper age limits for all branches of government, and require independent, merit-based appointments to reduce partisanship and promote diverse perspectives. Reinforce checks and balances, protect whistleblowers, and make clear that no public official is above the law.
- 05
Pursue universal, affordable healthcare by expanding coverage and reducing coverage gaps. Control costs by regulating prices for medicines and services, expanding drug price negotiations, and limiting out-of-pocket expenses. Invest in telehealth, community health centers, and rural health infrastructure to improve outcomes and reduce disparities. Increase antitrust enforcement against health care mergers and consolidated health systems. Reform payment and delivery systems to reward quality, prevention, and innovation. Increase regulation and accountability of private insurance and use evidence-based standards to ensure high-value care for all Americans.
- 06
Reduce the national debt and deficits through fair, evidence-based reforms that promote economic growth, equity, and fiscal responsibility. Close tax loopholes exploited by the wealthy and corporations, and ensure profitable businesses contribute their fair share. Modernize the tax code by phasing out regressive deductions and introducing new progressive revenue tools that protect working families. Implement entitlement program reforms, including aligning Medicare payments across settings, expanding the list of drugs subject to price negotiations, lowering healthcare costs through competition and preventive care, and lifting the social security payroll tax cap. Eliminate wasteful spending by streamlining defense procurement and prioritizing efficient infrastructure investments. Fuel growth by investing in clean energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. Pilot reforms that improve efficiency across public programs. By closing loopholes, raising revenue fairly, reducing waste, and investing in the future, we can secure America’s fiscal health without compromising core services or economic opportunity.
- 07
Rebuild unity and trust in America by providing robust media literacy education to empower individuals to critically assess information, recognize bias, and escape echo chambers, helping reduce polarization, disinformation, and misinformation. Support independent, high-quality journalism—especially at the local level—to ensure communities have access to accurate, relevant information and strengthen democracy by holding power accountable. Require clear labeling of opinion versus news and full disclosure of funding sources to increase transparency and curb manipulation by hidden interests. Hold social media platforms accountable for misinformation and foreign interference through algorithmic transparency, fact-checking, and enforceable standards. These efforts, rooted in shared values, can help America strengthen its democratic foundations and reconnect its communities.
- 08
Advance equality and dignity for every American by breaking down barriers rooted in race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, and national origin. Enact and enforce policies that guarantee equal pay for equal work, ensure bodily autonomy, protect civil and voting rights, and eliminate unfair discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, education, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice. Invest in community-driven solutions that address systemic inequalities, ensure fair access to justice, and promote representation and a voice for all. Support data-driven accountability, inclusive policy development, and ongoing evaluation to close persistent gaps. By building systems that work for everyone, we can fulfill America’s promise of liberty and justice for all.
- 09
Promote community safety and prevent violence by strengthening gun safety laws. Enact universal background checks that close commonly exploited loopholes, implement red flag laws, and require secure firearm storage to keep weapons out of dangerous hands while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. Expand evidence-based community violence intervention and alternative crisis response programs and invest in schools and early youth development programs, accessible mental health services, and social safety net programs to address root causes. Reform policing by requiring de-escalation training, crisis intervention teams, body-worn cameras, and transparent data reporting. End practices such as no-knock warrants, stop-and-frisk, and chokeholds to help rebuild public trust while supporting law enforcement officers who uphold the law with integrity and professionalism. Eliminate cash bail and end mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenses. Prevent domestic and intimate partner violence by expanding community-based prevention strategies, trauma-informed support services, and healthy relationship education. Improve school safety by strengthening school infrastructure, expanding access to counselors and mental health support, and promoting early intervention, to address threats of mass shootings and everyday violence, including bullying.
- 10
Maintain secure borders while also addressing the realities of a broken system that leaves families, employers, and communities in limbo. Prioritize the deportation of illegal arrivals and individuals with violent criminal records with guaranteed counsel and appropriate due process. Modernize border security using smart, effective tools. Strengthen anti-smuggling task forces and escalate sanctions on drug and human trafficking cartels. Expand and streamline legal pathways by creating new employment-based visa categories, updating visa quotas and removing per-country caps, and reducing backlogs and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Improve asylum and immigration court processes by hiring more immigration court staff and judges, and creating regional processing centers for faster, fairer adjudication. Provide earned legalization for long-term undocumented residents who contribute to the economy and communities but lack any legal pathway, while ensuring stronger enforcement going forward.
- 11
Accelerate America’s leadership in tackling climate change by investing in clean energy, electric vehicles, advanced batteries, and next-generation manufacturing—creating millions of new jobs while lowering energy costs and emissions. Incentivize businesses to cut pollution through market-based solutions, tax credits, and support for carbon capture, storage, and economically viable greenhouse gas sequestration, ensuring American industry remains globally competitive. Expand federal research and innovation in climate science and technology, and help farmers, ranchers, and foresters adopt climate-smart practices that boost rural economies and store carbon. Bolster disaster preparedness by strengthening FEMA, modernizing infrastructure, and investing in local resilience hubs, while revamping the insurance system with innovative products like parametric insurance and disaster risk financing to protect families and businesses from extreme weather. By combining practical, bipartisan solutions and robust public-private partnerships, America can lead the world in climate action, safeguard communities, and build a more resilient future against the threat of rising global temperatures.
- 12
Reform zoning regulations to promote development of high-density and multi-family housing, as well as Accessory Dwelling Units. Invest in new housing while preserving the affordability of existing housing. Incentivize and facilitate adaptive reuse, including the rehabilitation of vacant or blighted lots, infill development in urban centers, and commercial-to-residential conversion of unused buildings. Implement vacancy and land value taxes and promote creation of Community Land Trusts. Strengthen rental assistance and tenant protections, including expanded housing vouchers and fair housing enforcement. Support first-time and low-income homebuyers with down-payment assistance and affordable loans. Prioritize evidence-based solutions for housing insecurity like Housing First and community supportive services. Address market pressures by regulating bulk corporate and foreign purchases and limiting short-term rental conversions, ensuring homes serve local families and communities first.
- 13
End the dominance of wealthy donors and corporate interests in our democracy by overturning Citizens United and restoring meaningful limits on campaign spending. Implement small donor public financing and robust disclosure laws to amplify the voices of everyday Americans and eliminate dark money from politics. Reform the Federal Election Commission to break partisan gridlock, ensure real accountability, and enforce campaign finance laws effectively. Guarantee fair, secure, and accessible elections by modernizing the voting process, expanding automatic voter registration, supporting early and mail-in voting, and ensuring every eligible citizen can cast a ballot without barriers. Support creation of independent redistricting commissions to combat gerrymandering. Safeguard against misinformation, disinformation, and foreign interference. Promote ranked choice or alternative voting systems that better reflect the will of the people. Invest in civic education and empower local communities to participate in and oversee the democratic process, ensuring our elections are truly of, by, and for the people.
- 14
Rebuild prosperity in rural America by investing in local businesses. Expand high-speed internet, roads, bridges, and water systems to connect rural communities to economic opportunity. Improve healthcare access by supporting rural clinics, incentivizing rural medical practice, and expanding telehealth. Invest in local schools, community colleges, vocational programs, and job training tailored to rural needs. Support small farms and increase investment in Main Streets rather than Wall Street. Empower local leaders to drive solutions rooted in community care and rural values. Streamline federal programs and create a National Office of Rural Prosperity to coordinate resources, cut red tape, and ensure rural voices shape national policy—so small towns and rural communities can experience a new era of renewal and shared opportunity.
- 15
Establish strong, transparent regulation and independent oversight of AI development and deployment, with regular audits for bias, privacy, data security, and safety. Set clear standards for transparency and explainability. Implement reforms to combat AI misinformation and manipulated content. Enforce fairness and bias mitigation, with diverse voices shaping policy and oversight. Pair innovation with robust workforce transition programs and education to ensure no one is left behind. Treat catastrophic and long-term AI risks as global priorities, coordinating international standards and emergency protocols to safeguard our future.
- 16
Address the addiction crisis and support mental health by expanding access to evidence-based treatment—including medication-assisted therapy, integrated care, and peer support—so that help is available in every community. Invest in harm reduction strategies like naloxone distribution, supervised consumption sites, and community drug disposal to save lives and connect people to care. Reform the criminal justice system by diverting nonviolent offenders to treatment instead of jail and ensure incarcerated individuals receive effective addiction and mental health services. Scale up prevention through school-based programs and community resilience initiatives, while tackling root causes like trauma, poverty, and housing insecurity. Prioritize equity by closing gaps in rural and underserved areas. At the same time, strengthen border security and improve coordination among federal, state, and international agencies to disrupt trafficking networks and keep illegal drugs out of American communities.
Support the APC
National survey data shows that nearly 8 in 10 Americans, Democrats and Republicans alike, support the American People's Compact. Add your name to the growing list below:
Recent Signers
68
signed
932 supporters to reach goal
Your signature helps turn the APC into actual policy, and shows politicians it is a winning platform. You do not have to agree 100% to help move things forward. If you support the big-picture direction and values, or the majority of items, your support can help make the APC a reality.
What happens at 1000 signatures?
We will reach out to 20 city council reps and ask them to endorse the APC. See our next goals in the "Support the APC" tab.
Anonymous – Drummond Island, MI
23h ago
Donna L. – Trout Creek, MI
5d ago
Peggy V. – Brighton, MI
1d ago
Karen J. – Monrovia, CA
5d ago
Barb M. – Ann Arbor, MI
4d ago
Ian R. – Ann Arbor, MI
6d ago
What Americans Say About the APC


















































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