Our Mission

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was established in 1987 to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners. Its primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the United States presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates. The organization, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) corporation, sponsored all the presidential debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004.

		Host Your Own Debate Debates inform and involve voters in the political process. See guidelines for sponsoring other election-related debates or student forums.			Visit My Debates, the official companion to the 2008 presidential debates.			Debate Transcripts Read the transcripts of presidential and vice presidential debates, past and present.