The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) created its distinctive honors program, the Democracy Awards, in order to shine a spotlight on extraordinary public service in Congress, as well as provide examples of best practices for congressional offices to emulate. The categories are:
- Constituent Service – Recognizes offices for their outstanding practices or achievements acting as ombudsmen with the federal government or responding to constituent requests/inquiries.
- Innovation and Modernization – Recognizes offices employing originality or creativity in their constituent interactions, communications, or office operations, as well as intentional efforts to modernize the institution of Congress.
- "Life in Congress" Workplace Environment – Recognizes offices that have established both formal policies and informal cultures that enhance the work-life fit and professional development of their staffs.
- Constituent Accountability and Accessibility – Recognizes offices that hold themselves accountable to their constituents by providing clear and relevant information on their work and performance and publicly acknowledge metrics for that performance.
- Lifetime Achievement– Recognizes three individuals (two Members and one staffer) for their decades of service to Congress.
