The purpose of the Transition to Governing Project is to facilitate effective progression from campaigning to governing at the national level. Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the project is run by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in conjunction with the Brookings Institution and the Hoover Institution. Areas of study include:

• leadership qualities necessary for effective governance
• how a candidate can make a smooth transition to office
• the permanent campaign culture
• obstacles to governance such as the lengthening appointments process

Contemporary politicians devote so much time and energy to the campaign that once elected, they are often ill prepared to hit the ground running. Campaign press coverage and candidate debates do not promote a focus on issues of governance or require candidates to articulate their governing approaches or visions. The skills that serve candidates well in the campaign do not always translate directly into governing capabilities; in fact, they may be inimical to governance.

At the same time, campaigning has been an integral feature of governance. This permanent campaign competes with policymaking for politicians' time and attention. Further, campaign techniques, such as public relations blitzes and using "wedge" issues to polarize constituencies, have permeated the policymaking process. The Transition to Governing Project seeks to analyze the permanent campaign and to develop strategies for governing.

Norman J. Ornstein of AEI and Thomas Mann of Brookings direct the Transition to Governing Project.