Preserving the rights and freedoms of all Americans and protecting our judiciary
Our Vision
Constitutional Accountability Center envisions a future in which judges, policymakers, academics, non-profit organizations, and the public understand the Constitution, in its most vital respects, to be a progressive document, and always apply the text, history, and values of the whole Constitution to resolve disputes over its meaning.
Our Mission
Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC) is a think tank, law firm, and action center dedicated to fulfilling the progressive promise of our Constitution’s text and history. We work in our courts, through our government, and with legal scholars to preserve the rights and freedoms of all in America and to protect our judiciary from politics and special interests.
Our Commitment
At Constitutional Accountability Center, we view the Constitution as an inherently progressive document—amended over the generations to become more just, equitable, and inclusive. To make real the promises of our national charter, we must honor and celebrate different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds, and especially the contributions of historically marginalized communities. As an organization, we make every effort to live by these ideals and help create the conditions that will allow all individuals and communities to thrive.
We are committed to the recruitment, development, and retention of talented and diverse staff who believe in true justice and equality for all people. CAC is an equal opportunity employer, and we particularly encourage people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino/Latina or Latinx, Asian American or Pacific Islander, and from other underrepresented communities to join us.
Key Facts
Leadership
Amicus Briefs Filed
Practitioners
Testimonial
Our History
Constitutional Accountability Center was launched in 2008 by the late Doug Kendall to build on the work of our predecessor organization, Community Rights Counsel. CRC was a public interest law firm that promoted constitutional principles in defense of laws that make our communities environmentally sound and socially just. CAC was founded to push beyond environmental justice to promote the progressive promise of the whole Constitution’s text and history.
Our Method
Combined, honest textualism and principled originalism—text and history—constitute CAC’s method and form the essential foundation for assessing constitutional accountability. Click to learn more about our method.