THE 14TH ANNUAL SHORTY AWARDS

The Shorty Awards honor the best of social media and digital. View this season's finalists!

This Is Why We Need Checks and Balances

Finalist in Animation, Social Good Campaign

Entered in Medium-Length Video

Objective

Rebuilding a Common Civic Language
This campaign was built to reinforce the civic literacy our democracy depends on. Checks and balances and the due process of law are the foundation of U.S. democracy. Congress and the courts are essential safeguards against abuse. Reinforcing these fundamentals is especially critical during moments of uncertainty and division. In recent years — and especially leading into early 2026 — Americans have repeatedly reckoned with events that tested the limits of executive power. When constitutional guardrails are weakened, the consequences affect everyone.

Strategy

Reaching People Where They Are
Because the Constitution is interpreted and fought over in courtrooms, too many Americans think it is the domain of judges and lawyers. Basic legal principles are often misunderstood — especially in rapid information cycles. But the Constitution belongs to the American people.

Results

The Response
Within just three weeks of launch, the video amassed over 24 million views across social media and streaming ads.

Media

Video for This Is Why We Need Checks and Balances

Entrant Company / Organization Name

Brennan Center for Justice

Links