About
About the Civic Intelligence Unit
Mission
The Civic Intelligence Unit (CIU) is a nonpartisan research and public-education initiative dedicated to strengthening democratic accountability through independent, evidence-based evaluation of how elected officials and institutions respect constitutional guardrails.
CIU focuses on evaluating conduct in practice—particularly during moments when constitutional norms and guardrails are tested—to serve as a serious and credible source of evidence-based information for independent and moderate citizens outside partisan narratives.
What CIU Does
CIU serves as a serious, nonpartisan source of information for independent and moderate citizens seeking clear insight into how democratic institutions and elected officials perform when constitutional principles are tested.
Specifically, CIU:
Evaluates the conduct of elected officials and candidates against core constitutional guardrails, focusing on restraint, accountability, and respect for democratic norms rather than ideology or policy outcomes
Develops and applies structured accountability frameworks, including the Constitutional Accountability Index, using publicly verifiable evidence and clearly documented standards
Publishes comparative scorecards and analyses that translate complex institutional records into clear, accessible signals for non-specialist audiences
Provides context and explanation, enabling citizens, journalists, and institutions to distinguish between good-faith governance disagreements and conduct that undermines constitutional self-government
What CIU Does Not Do
CIU does not:
Endorse candidates or political parties
Engage in campaign or electioneering activity
Promote ideological, policy, or partisan agendas
CIU's role is analytical, not political.