Democracy Is More Than Elections! Citizen Congress Watch Joins Three U.S. Civil Society Organizations in Washington, D.C. to Discuss Democratic Oversight
發布日期 2026.10.30
.jpg)
Democracy Is More Than Elections! Citizen Congress Watch Joins Three U.S. Civil Society Organizations in Washington, D.C. to Discuss Democratic Oversight
🌏 As political polarization, abuses of power, and democratic backsliding pose growing challenges, how can civil society in Taiwan and the United States work together to strengthen accountability and protect democratic institutions?
On October 20, 2026, Citizen Congress Watch (CCW) was invited by the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) to participate in a public seminar in Washington, D.C., titled “Strengthening Taiwan’s Democracy: The Role of Civil Society in Legislative Oversight.”
Represented by Deputy Executive Director Li-Yi Chen, CCW joined three leading U.S. civil society organizations to share Taiwan’s experience in parliamentary transparency, legislative performance evaluations, and civic participation.
🏛️ FromCivicMobilizationToInstitutionalReform | Sharing Taiwan’s Legislative Oversight Experience
Civil society has played a vital role in Taiwan’s transition from authoritarian rule to democracy. From the Sunflower Movement to the 2024 controversy over legislative powers, civic mobilization has demonstrated the public’s determination to participate in democratic governance.
However, democracy cannot depend on elections alone, nor should citizens become engaged only when a political crisis emerges.
The greater challenge is transforming moments of political mobilization into sustained, professional, and institutionalized civic oversight.
Founded in 2007, CCW began evaluating legislators in 2008 and has continued to promote legislative accountability, parliamentary transparency, civic education, and public access to legislative information. Its advocacy has contributed to reforms such as parliamentary broadcasting, financial disclosure requirements for elected representatives, and the development of open legislative data.
At the seminar, CCW also discussed challenges facing Taiwan, including foreign interference, AI-driven disinformation, legislative budget gridlock, vacancies in constitutional oversight institutions, and the need for greater transparency regarding publicly funded legislative staff and conflicts of interest.
🤝 LegalAction AntiCorruption CivicMobilization | How U.S. Civil Society Holds Political Power Accountable
The seminar brought together three U.S. organizations whose work demonstrates different approaches to protecting democratic accountability.
🔹 CREW | Using Litigation and Data to Hold Government Accountable
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) monitors government ethics, conflicts of interest, and abuses of public office through investigations, public records requests, data analysis, and litigation.
Robert Maguire, Vice President for Research and Data, observed that while Taiwanese civil society is working to advance its relatively young democracy, American watchdog organizations are confronting the challenge of preventing established democratic institutions from being undermined.
His remarks highlighted the importance of sustained oversight, regardless of how long a democracy has existed.
🔹 Transparency International U.S. | Building Bipartisan Support for Anti-Corruption Reform
Transparency International U.S. focuses on combating illicit finance, preventing money laundering, improving corporate transparency, and strengthening political integrity.
Deputy Executive Director Scott Greytak emphasized that effective anti-corruption reform requires not only sound research and policy expertise, but also bipartisan support to withstand political polarization and changes in government.
🔹 Common Cause | Turning Grassroots Participation into Democratic Accountability
Common Cause advocates for government transparency, civic rights, and democratic reform.
Daryl Lobban, Senior Vice President, stressed that laws and transparency mechanisms are important tools, but their effectiveness ultimately depends on citizens who are willing to act.
He also emphasized the need for civil society organizations to establish clear and consistent standards of accountability and apply them fairly across political parties to build public trust.
💜 DemocraticOversightBeyondBorders | Strengthening Democracy Through International Cooperation
This exchange reminded us that democratic institutions do not become permanently secure simply because regular elections are held.
From legal accountability and anti-corruption reform to grassroots organizing, civil society organizations may use different strategies, but they share a common goal: ensuring that political power remains accountable, public decision-making is transparent, and citizens have a meaningful role in democratic governance.
“The strength of democracy depends not only on those who stand up in moments of crisis, but also on citizens who participate, monitor those in power, and advocate for change every day.”
CCW will continue strengthening international partnerships, sharing Taiwan’s experience in legislative oversight, and learning from American civil society’s approaches to litigation, policy advocacy, and grassroots mobilization.
🙏 We sincerely thank the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) for its invitation and thoughtful arrangements. Through policy research, public forums, and international exchanges, GTI has long worked to deepen understanding of Taiwan and strengthen U.S.–Taiwan relations.
We are also grateful to CREW, Transparency International U.S., and Common Cause for sharing their valuable experiences. We hope this dialogue will lead to continued cooperation between Taiwanese and American civil society organizations.
Democracy must go beyond the ballot box. It must be strengthened through everyday civic participation and public oversight!
🎥 Watch the full seminar | Strengthening Taiwan’s Democracy: The Role of Civil Society in Legislative Oversight
📖 Global Taiwan Institute | Event Summary
This event was supported by a grant from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.
#CitizenCongressWatch #GlobalTaiwanInstitute #CREW #TransparencyInternationalUS #CommonCause #DemocraticResilience #LegislativeOversight #GovernmentAccountability #CivicEngagement #TaiwanUSRelations