Does your office provide outstanding constituent service? Do you incorporate performance management best practices and creative work-flex policies into your office culture? Maybe your Member excels in transparency or your colleagues use innovative techniques to improve staff-constituent communication?

At a time when the merits of best practices and quality constituent service are often overshadowed by hyper-partisanship and negative rhetoric, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) created the Democracy Awards to shine a light on effective leadership in Congress across the political spectrum in four distinct categories: Constituent Service; Innovation; Transparency and Accountability; and “Life in Congress” Workplace Environment. A fifth award category recognizes two Members of Congress and one staffer for Lifetime Achievement.

Last month, we honored our inaugural winners and finalists at a moving ceremony, which will be broadcast this month on C-SPAN. Read about last year’s winners, and take a look at photos from the ceremony.

CMF is proud to open Democracy Awards nominations for 2019, and we cordially invite offices to self-nominate for any or all of the main categories using this form:

• The nomination period is open until December 21.
• Following a review of the submitted form, CMF will ask for additional information and conduct staff interviews. (For example, if you claim your office turns around your constituent mail in two days, we will ask to see mail reports.)
• For the Lifetime Achievement Democracy Award, we need your help identifying outstanding public servants working in Congress who you believe deserve this honor. (Individuals may not self-nominate in this category.) Learn more about the Lifetime Achievement Democracy Award here.
• Please note: 2018 winners cannot apply again in the same category.

The Democracy Awards not only provides congressional offices with examples of management and constituent service best practices, it also gives Americans a glimpse of Congress they don’t often see—dedicated public servants striving for a better nation.

Good luck!

Updated October 16, 2018