At the Cato Institute, we stand firmly on the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution — on the bedrock American values of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Throughout our more than 40 years, we have been willing to criticize officials of both parties when they sought to take the country in another direction. But we have also been pleased to work with administrations and members of Congress of both parties when they seek to expand freedom, limit government, or protect the Constitution. Of course, our scholars will not hesitate to criticize unwise, imprudent, or dangerous initiatives from any source.
The Cato Handbook for Policymakers has been published periodically since 1995, to coincide with presidential or midterm elections. In it, Cato Institute scholars offer hundreds of policy suggestions for members of Congress, agency and administration officials, and state policymakers. Many chapters propose big, systemic changes that would address fundamental policy problems. Other chapters, and sometimes the same ones, offer very detailed, specific ideas for policy improvement.