FAQs
What is the Civic Intelligence Unit (CIU)?
The Civic Intelligence Unit (CIU) is a nonpartisan research and public-education initiative focused on how democratic institutions and public officials perform when constitutional guardrails are tested.
What does CIU do?
CIU focuses on three core functions:
1. Research & Indices: We develop clear evidence-based frameworks—such as the Constitutional Accountability Scorecard—that organize complex political behavior into measurable standards.
2. Public Scorecards: We present candidate and officeholder assessments in a format that is clear, comparable and easy to use.
3. Civic Clarity: We help independent and moderate voters cut through partisan noise and focus on what public officials actually do.
What does CIU NOT do?
CIU does NOT endorse candidates, persuade people how to vote, or predict elections. We are dedicated to providing objective, fact-based tools to help voters make their own decisions.
Is CIU affiliated with a political party or campaign?
No. CIU does not endorse candidates or political parties, engage in campaign activity, or promote ideological or partisan agendas. Its role is purely analytical, not political.
Who is CIU for?
CIU serves independent-minded voters seeking clear insight into whether public officials’ power is being exercised with respect for constitutional norms.
Independent voters are the single largest political force in the country, but many lack access to tools aligned with how they evaluate politics: less by ideology and more by how power is exercised. CIU exists to close that gap by providing objective analysis based on constitutional responsibility rather than political ideology.
What is the Constitutional Accountability Scorecard (CAS)?
The Constitutional Accountability Scorecard (CAS) is a nonpartisan framework designed to evaluate how candidates in competitive contests respect core constitutional guardrails. Candidates are evaluated based on three areas: Use of Force, Rule of Law and Election Integrity.
Does the Scorecard measure ideology or policy positions?
No. The CAS does not measure or take into account political ideology, policy preference, or party loyalty. Instead, it evaluates publicly verifiable conduct against widely recognized constitutional principles.
What evidence does the Scorecard rely on?
The CAS relies on only publicly available, verifiable evidence. This includes votes and legislation, court opinions (for judicial candidates), public statements and documented actions, website platforms, and findings by courts, election authorities or ethics bodies.
How does CIU ensure that the Scorecards are objective?
Scorecards rely on publicly verifiable facts, clearly defined standards, and widely recognized constitutional principles to assess observable conduct. Standards are applied consistently across candidates of all parties. Policy disagreements, unadjudicated allegations, guilt by association, and silence absent evidence of misconduct are not taken into account.
How do I read the Scorecard?
The Scorecard uses a clear, color-coded format so that readers can quickly understand how candidates’ records align with constitutional guardrails.
Every candidate receives a rating in each applicable category based on publicly verifiable conduct:
🟢 Green — Clear, consistent evidence of constitutional restraint and accountability
🟡 Amber — Mixed, limited, or under-articulated record; no clear breach
🔴 Red — Clear or repeated actions that undermine constitutional guardrails
N/A (Not Rated) — Insufficient or non-applicable evidence for the office