Our survey finds that most Americans do not expect to engage voluntarily on issues raised in the campaign, but there is strong support for laws and other policies that would encourage civic engagement.

This discrepancy between personal behavior and policy preferences is not unusual. For example, according to a recent Pew survey, 90% of Americans favor tighter fuel efficiency standards for automobiles; but most people do not (or perhaps cannot) voluntarily buy the most fuel- efficient cars currently on the market.10 Similarly, in last year’s Civic Health Index survey, 67% of respondents said it was important for them personally to volunteer, yet Census surveys show an adult volunteering rate of about 27% each year. Such discrepancies may be evidence of hypocrisy or may show that individual voluntary action is impossible for some and that new policies are needed to support engagement.

The strong support for public policies that capture some of the momentum generated by the Presidential election and institutionalize it in ways that can help sustain the civic and political participation of Americans beyond the election gives us hope that with smart policies, we can improve civic life.

Last year’s Civic Health Index report found strong support for civic engagement. Asked the best way to address problems in their community, very few chose “let the government define the problem and take action.” An outright majority favored collaboration between citizens and institutions. But many respondents said opportunities for such work were inadequate. For instance, only 43% of respondents said there was a place where they could go to discuss issues facing their communities.

This year, we tested seven potential policy reforms that have been publicly proposed as ways to encourage civic engagement and enhance partnerships between citizens and the government.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, an initiative of President Franklin Roosevelt that would mobilize 3 million jobless men over a decade to work on improving the nation’s public lands. Since that time, many Presidents and the U.S. Congress have proposed policies and initiatives to increase the civic engagement of Americans. Some Presidents have created opportunities for Americans to serve overseas; others have offered tuition or loan assistance in exchange for a commitment of service; others have promoted civic education and linked those efforts with new service opportunities; and still others have promoted linking classroom learning with community service experiences. A new effort, called “ServiceNation,” is promoting a comprehensive set of policies that would create opportunities for more Americans to serve over their lifetimes – from Kindergarten beyond retirement; to tackle major challenges – such as epidemic levels of high school dropouts, polluted rivers, and deadly malaria overseas; and to serve full-time, part-time or as traditional volunteers in the United States or abroad. To be effective, public polices must meet Americans where they are and respond to the real incentives that would engage them in civic life.