In this report, we offer a framework for defining and measuring civic infrastructure.

We then present some measures that are well aligned with our definition and provide information to help monitor civic infrastructure across the United States, in individual states, in communities, and across diverse populations. We specifically define civic infrastructure as the places, policies, programs, and practices that undergird strong communities and foster civic engagement. Our framework categorizes these places, policies, programs, and practices in terms of three inputs: (1) democratic governance, (2) civic education, and (3) civic spaces. In contrast with previous definitions of civic infrastructure, we also consider how these inputs are related to a set of intertwined outputs: (1) civic literacy, (2) civic identity, and (3) civic engagement. We define each of these inputs and outputs that are part of our framework in more detail in the first chapter of this report.