Too often, when progressives talk about ways to save and strengthen democracy, they’re talking only to themselves, with grand plans to transform the system dramatically. Ideas that will win only liberal support may be laudable, but let’s face it—in today’s Washington, they’re probably going nowhere. Meanwhile, believe it or not, there are proposals that have bipartisan support. Might it make more sense to start there?

In this issue, with support from Issue One, the bipartisan advocacy group dedicated to building a better democracy, we explore those ideas. As these essays show, there is support across the aisle for a number of reforms that would actually strengthen our democracy. This is an issue on which progressives understandably want to swing for the fences. But maybe, given today’s Beltway realities, hitting for singles isn’t the worst idea.