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# Center for Representative Government 

At a Glance 

Taking its inspiration from James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, the Cato Institute’s Center for Representative Government is dedicated to promoting limited, representative government. Today, government offers many new threats to individual freedom and the virtues needed for its preservation. Unfortunately, career politicians, an ever‐​expanding government and massive regulatory constraints dominate American political life. The Center and its scholars are working through books, conferences, forums, op‐​eds, speeches, congressional testimony, and TV and radio appearances to bring the ideals of individual liberty, civil society, limited government and citizen legislators back to the forefront of American political life.

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#### Topics 

- [Government and Politics](/government-politics)
- [Public Opinion](/public-opinion)

[![Capitol building with Senate](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2020-09/capitol%20building-min-min.jpg?itok=b7kBii2H)](https://www.cato.org/commentary/they-never-learn-politicians-continue-grant-themselves-powers-later-abused-their) 

Commentary 

### [They Never Learn: Politicians Continue to Grant Themselves Powers Later Abused by Their Opponents](/commentary/they-never-learn-politicians-continue-grant-themselves-powers-later-abused-their) 

By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) 

Congress and President Biden should work together to rein in presidential powers over war, emergencies, international trade, and other areas and the use of executive orders in lieu of legislation.

[![Student Debt](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2022-09/student-debt.jpg?itok=4HFJOgRi)](https://www.cato.org/blog/new-poll-76-americans-oppose-student-debt-cancellation-it-drives-price-college-64-oppose-it) 

blog 

### [New Poll: 76% of Americans Oppose Student Debt Cancellation if It Drives up the Price of College, 64% Oppose if It Raises Taxes](/blog/new-poll-76-americans-oppose-student-debt-cancellation-it-drives-price-college-64-oppose-it) 

By [Emily Ekins](https://www.cato.org/people/emily-ekins) 

The Cato Institute 2022 Student Debt Cancellation Survey finds support for student debt cancellation plummets when considering its costs and trade-offs.

[![The Politics Industry social](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-11/political-gridlock-cropped.jpg?itok=gG4IDx7-)](https://www.cato.org/commentary/republicans-dont-have-monopoly-toxic-racial-politics) 

Commentary 

### [Republicans Don’t Have a Monopoly on Toxic Racial Politics](/commentary/republicans-dont-have-monopoly-toxic-racial-politics) 

By [Cathy Young](https://www.cato.org/people/cathy-young) 

Yes, the Republicans in 2022 have bigger and worse racial demons to exorcise. But toxic racial politics do not stop at the party line.

#### Our Experts 

[![Emily Ekins](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2021-01/Emily%20Ekins.jpg?itok=XPGXgdZU)](/people/emily-ekins) 

##### [Emily Ekins](/people/emily-ekins)

Vice President for Policy and Society

[![Media Name: duffield-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2021-01/duffield-cropped.jpg?itok=lojJjrdQ)](/people/will-duffield) 

##### [Will Duffield](/people/will-duffield)

Adjunct Scholar

[![john-samples-cropped-final.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2022-08/john-samples-cropped-final.jpg?itok=fglX3jIb)](/people/john-samples) 

##### [John Samples](/people/john-samples)

Senior Fellow