American Enterprise Institute

"[D]edicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of freedom: limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense." (American Enterprise Institute)

Amnesty International

"[A] worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. [Our] vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards." (Amnesty International)

Baker Institute for Public Policy

Hope to "[help] bridge the gap between the theory and practice of public policy by drawing together experts from academia, government, the media, business, and non-governmental organizations...[thus broadening] the professional perspective and personal understanding of all those involved in the study, formulation, execution, and criticism of public policy." (Baker Institute for Public Policy; Rice University)

Brookings Institute

"[A]n independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to research, analysis, and public education, with an emphasis on economics, foreign policy, and governance." (Brookings Institute)

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

"[A] private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Founded in 1910, [our] work is nonpartisan and dedicated to achieving practical results." (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

Cato Institute

"[S]eeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace...[and] strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government." (Cato Institute)

Center For International Policy

Their mission is to promote "a U.S. foreign policy based on international cooperation, demilitarization and respect for basic human rights." They were "founded in 1975, in the wake of the Vietnam War, by former diplomats and peace activists." (Center for International Policy)

Center For the Defense Of Free Enterprise

"An educational foundation for individual liberty, free markets, property rights and limited government." (Center For the Defense Of Free Enterprise)

Center For Strategic & International Studies

CSIS "seeks to advance global security and prosperity in an era of economic and political transformation by providing strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decisionmakers. CSIS serves as a strategic planning partner for the government by conducting research and analysis and developing policy initiatives that look into the future and anticipate change." (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

"[C]onducts research and analysis to inform public debates over proposed budget and tax policies and to help ensure that the needs of low-income families and individuals are considered in these debates... [and] develops policy options to alleviate poverty, particularly among working families." (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

Citizens For Tax Justice

A "public interest research and advocacy organization focusing on federal, state and local tax policies and their impact upon our nation. CTJ's mission is to give ordinary people a greater voice in the development of tax laws." (Citizens For Tax Justice)

Commonwealth Institute

"[An] independent, nongovernmental public policy research center." Special projects as of Jan. 2007 include Project On Defense Alternatives and Progressive Strategy Studies Project. Special topics Web pages include Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, U.S. "Revolution in Military Affairs", Defense Strategy Review, Chinese Military Power, Terrorism, Counter Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Occupation Distress (i.e., Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). (Commonwealth Institute)

Council On Foreign Relations

"Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, national membership organization and a nonpartisan center for scholars dedicated to producing and disseminating ideas so that individual and corporate members, as well as policymakers, journalists, students, and interested citizens in the United States and other countries, can better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other governments." (Council On Foreign Relations)

Open CRS: Congressional Research Reports for the People

   EXCELLENT !

"Open CRS provides citizens access to CRS Reports that are already in the public domain and encourages Congress to provide public access to all CRS Reports." (Center for Democracy & Technology)

Economic Policy Institute

Its mission is to provide "research and education in order to promote a prosperous, fair, and sustainable economy...[It] stresses real world analysis and a concern for the living standards of working people, and it makes its findings accessible to the general public, the media, and policy makers." (Economic Policy Institute)

Employment Policies Institute

"[A] non-profit research organization dedicated to studying public policy issues surrounding employment growth, [especially] issues that affect entry-level employment." (Employment Policies Institute)

Foreign Policy Association

"[A] non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. ... FPA provides independent publications, programs and forums to increase public awareness of, and foster popular participation in, matters relating to those policy issues." (Foreign Policy Association)

Heritage Foundation

"[Our] mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense." (Heritage Foundation)

Human Rights Watch

"Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world." (Human Rights Watch)

Institute For Foreign Policy Analysis

"[An] independent, nonpartisan research organization specializing in national security, foreign policy, and defense planning issues." (Institute For Foreign Policy Analysis)

Peterson Institute For International Economics

"[A] private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study of international economic policy." (Peterson Institute For International Economics)

International Institute For Strategic Studies

"The IISS was founded in 1958 in the UK by a number of individuals interested in how to maintain civilised international relations in the nuclear age. Much of the Institute’s early work focused on nuclear deterrence and arms control and was hugely influential in setting the intellectual structures for managing the Cold War." (International Institute For Strategic Studies, U.K.)

International Monetary Fund

"[An] organization of 184 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty." (International Monetary Fund)

International Relations Center

An organization that is working to "make the U.S. a more responsible member of the global community by promoting progressive strategic dialogues that lead to new citizen-based agendas." (International Relations Center)

NAFTA Secretariat

"The NAFTA Secretariat, comprised of a Canadian Section, a Mexican Section and a United States Section, is responsible for the administration of the dispute settlement provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)." (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement Secretariat)

People-Centered Development Forum

"The PCDForum envisions human societies in which three values serve as organizing principles of public policy: Justice ... Inclusiveness ... Sustainability." (People-Centered Development Forum)

Peterson Institute For International Economics

"[A] private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study of international economic policy." (Peterson Institute For International Economics)

Pew Charitable Trusts

"The Pew Charitable Trusts serves the public interest by providing information, policy solutions and support for civic life." (Pew Charitable Trusts)

Public Agenda

A nonpartisan and nonprofit organization that provides research in the hopes of "[bridging] the gap between American leaders and what the public really thinks about issues ranging from education to foreign policy to immigration to religion and civility in American life"; this link will take you to their own collection of Issue Guides. (Public Agenda)

RAND Corporation

"[A] nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world." (RAND Corporation)

Resources for the Future

An "independent institute dedicated exclusively to analyzing environmental, energy, and natural resource topics." (Resources for the Future)

Tax Policy Center

Their mission is to "provide independent analyses of current and longer-term tax issues and to communicate its analyses to the public and to policymakers in a timely and accessible manner." (Brookings Institute; Urban Institute)

United Nations

"The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity." (United Nations)

World Bank

"The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. [It is} made up of two unique development institutions owned by 184 member countries: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the International Development Association (IDA). " (World Bank)

World Policy Institute

Concerned with "policy research and advocacy ... international diplomacy and world politics ... domestic and international concerns." (World Policy Institute)

Urban Institute

"The Urban Institute measures effects, compares options, shows which stakeholders get the most and least, tests conventional wisdom, reveals trends, and makes costs, benefits, and risks explicit." (Urban Institute)

United States Institute Of Peace

USIP is an "independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and democratic transformations, and increase peacebuilding capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide." (United States Institute Of Peace)

This page was last updated on 2007 January 05.
Send feedback and corrections to pat.semple@montgomerycollege.edu.