Nonpartisan · Civic Education · Good Governance

CivicSphere

Civic power, put to work — for every community,
at every level of democracy.

Explore the 12 Points About Civic Sphere
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"Good governance is not a destination — it is a practice."
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Our Mission

Strengthening Democracy at Every Level

Civic Sphere is a nonpartisan civic engagement platform dedicated to strengthening democratic participation and good governance at every level of civic life — from neighborhood associations to national institutions.

We equip citizens, civic leaders, and communities with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to hold institutions accountable and build a stronger democracy. Our flagship framework — the 12 Points of Good Governance — provides an accessible, nonpartisan standard against which citizens can evaluate their government.

Civic Sphere is the civic technology companion to American Civic Power, founded by Long Island civic advocate and organizer Daniel P. Devine.

The Framework

12 Points of Good Governance

Each principle is both an aspiration and a standard — a guide for civic leaders working to build the communities they believe in, and a benchmark against which existing institutions can be measured and held accountable.

01
Rule of Law

Laws apply equally to everyone, including those in power, and are enforced fairly and impartially.

 02
Transparency

Government decisions, processes, and finances are open and accessible to the public.

 03
Accountability

Leaders and institutions are answerable for their actions and decisions to the people they serve.

 04
Participation

Citizens have meaningful opportunities to engage in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

 05
Consensus Orientation

Governance mediates differing interests to reach broad agreement on what is in the best interest of the community.

 06
Equity & Inclusiveness

All members of society, especially the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their wellbeing.

 07
Effectiveness & Efficiency

Institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of available resources.

 08
Responsiveness

Institutions and processes serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

 09
Strategic Vision

Leaders have a long-term perspective on governance and human development, grounded in historical and social context.

 10
Ethical Leadership

Those in power demonstrate integrity, honesty, and a genuine commitment to the public good over personal interest.

 11
Separation of Powers

Legislative, executive, and judicial functions are distributed to prevent concentration of power and protect against abuse.

 12
Local Power

Decisions are made at the most local level possible, empowering communities rather than centralizing all authority.
Good Governance in Depth

The Framework in Detail

Explore each of the 12 Points of Good Governance in depth — from the foundational principles to their connection to Civic Sphere's mission.

Good Governance Overview
Overview
Rule of Law
01 — Rule of Law
Transparency
02 — Transparency
Accountability
03 — Accountability
Participation
04 — Participation
Consensus Orientation
05 — Consensus Orientation
Equity and Inclusiveness
06 — Equity & Inclusiveness
Effectiveness and Efficiency
07 — Effectiveness & Efficiency
Responsiveness
08 — Responsiveness
Strategic Vision
09 — Strategic Vision
Ethical Leadership
10 — Ethical Leadership
Separation of Powers
11 — Separation of Powers
Local Power
12 — Local Power
Closing
Governance Is Everyone's Responsibility
About

Civic Power, Put to Work

Civic Sphere was founded by Daniel P. Devine, a Long Island–based civic advocate, grassroots organizer, and democratic activist with decades of experience in electoral campaigns, community organizing, and civic education.

Daniel ran for the Nassau County Legislature in 2015, served as a Field Organizer for the New York State Democratic Committee, and has spent his career building organizations and platforms that connect citizens to the institutions that shape their lives.

Civic Sphere is the civic technology companion to American Civic Power — a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering citizens and strengthening democratic participation across Long Island and beyond.

Civic Sphere is working toward becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to civic education, community engagement, and democratic empowerment.

12 Points of Good Governance
100+ Volunteers Led
128K District Residents Represented
25+ Years in Civic Life
American Civic Power danielpdevine.com LinkedIn
Get in Touch

Contact Civic Sphere

Interested in civic education, community partnerships, or learning more about the 12 Points of Good Governance? We'd love to hear from you.

📍
Long Island, New York
📞
631-406-9767
✉️
[email protected]
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americancivicpower.com