United States Consensus Council (USCC)

A diverse, bi-partisan leadership group has come together to form the United States Consensus Council (USCC). USCC members include former U.S. Senators, Representatives, Cabinet Officials and Diplomats; former Governors and Mayors; and other leaders from law, business, politics and the non-profit sector. Click here for the USCC roster.

The USCC serves as a steering committee for Search for Common Ground-USA. The USCC helps SFCG-USA develop and implement policy consensus processes that result in common ground solutions to important national and local public policy issues while building trust among diverse, and often conflicting, stakeholders. These processes engage parties to find “higher ground” solutions where their interests coincide, with the ultimate goal of reshaping political discourse from predominantly adversarial to collaborative. The role of the USCC includes:

• Identifying and vetting specific policy issues appropriate for consensus-building;

• Endorsing existing or prospective projects consistent with the spirit of the USCC;

• Raising funds to support widespread use of consensus-building processes;

• Helping bring to public attention to the power of and need for consensus-based approaches to addressing certain public policy issues.

The USCC itself does not take positions on any policy issues nor does the USCC itself deliberate to reach agreement on policy matters. Rather, its role is to support projects that:

• Address national, state or local issues of importance;

• Include key stakeholders from a wide spectrum of perspectives;

• Are facilitated in a neutral and skillful manner to reach agreements on recommendations;

• Include a plan of action to implement agreements that are reached; and

• Are thoroughly non-partisan in nature.

The USCC and SFCG-USA place great value on bringing people of differing points of view and experience to a common table. Engaging diverse and influential stakeholders on a particular issue can yield wiser, more enduring, and more broadly supportable policy recommendations that would be otherwise possible. When effectively designed and facilitated, these processes also build trust, increase mutual understanding and develop respectful communication.

Consensus processes already have a track record of success at the state and national levels on such diverse issues as hazardous waste treatment, life-sustaining medical treatment, mental health care, Superfund, and others. This approach can be applied to a wide range of issues including social policy, privacy, foreign policy, defense, economic policy, and other areas.

The USCC already has been involved in advising and supporting national policy consensus processes on: faith-based social service initiatives, health care coverage for the uninsured, U.S Engagement With the Global Muslim Community, and HIV/AIDS. Additional local consensus projects supported by the USCC include work on reentry of ex-offenders into society in Philadelphia, and creating a viable mixed-income community in near Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C

Download: US Consensus Council Overview (PDF)
Download: Consensus Building: Coming to Agreement on Policy Issues (PDF)