22 U.S.C. § 8251 — Cooperation with democratic countries

(a) Sense of Congress — Congress believes the United States should team up with other democratic countries to: (1) promote and protect democratic principles, practices, and values; (2) promote and protect shared freedoms, including the freedoms of association, expression, the press, religion, and owning private property; (3) promote and protect respect for the rule of law; (4) build strategies for common interests in international organizations that member countries belong to; and (5) give political, economic, and other support to countries moving toward democracy. (b) Community of Democracies (1) Sense of Congress — Congress believes that: (A) the Community of Democracies should create a more formal way to work between its meetings — for example, by setting up a permanent secretariat with staff and a headquarters; and (B) nondemocratic countries should not join any group of democratic countries working together to promote democracy. (2) Detail of personnel — The Secretary of State can send, without reimbursement, any Department employee to work at a permanent secretariat of the Community of Democracies, or to the government of any country in the Community's Convening Group. (c) Establishment of an office for multilateral democracy promotion — The Secretary should set up an office focused on promoting democracy across many countries at once. Its jobs would include strengthening the Community of Democracies, developing joint projects between government ministries, supporting the United Nations Democracy Caucus, managing the United Nations Democracy Fund, and coordinating with other regional and international democracy groups. (d) International Center for Democratic Transition (1) Sense of Congress — Congress believes the International Center for Democratic Transition — started by Hungary's government — helps share best practices for building democracy, and that it should get support from the United States, other European countries that have gone through their own democratic transitions, and private individuals. (2) Authorization of appropriations — Congress authorized $1,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010, for the Secretary to give as a grant to the International Center for Democratic Transition. Once appropriated, this money stays available until it's spent.