Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Civic ("Civic," "We," "Our," or "Us"), a platform dedicated to reimagining and revitalizing people's connection to and engagement with government for a 21st century world. Please read these Terms carefully because they govern your access to and use of the Civic mobile application, website, and all other Civic software applications and online services (collectively, the "Service" or "Services").

Agreement to Terms

By using any portion of the Service, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms. These Terms apply to you regardless of whether you are a "Member" (meaning, you have created an account with Civic) or are a "Visitor" (meaning, you are using or viewing the Service but have not created an account with Civic). The term "You," "Your," or "User" refers to both Members and Visitors.

The Service is designed for civic engagement and educational purposes. You agree that you are using the Service to learn about representatives, legislation, elections, and engage in constructive civic discourse.

Changes to Terms or Services

We may modify the Terms and our Services at any time, in our sole discretion. If we do so, we will notify you by email (if you have provided one) or by posting notice on the Service at least 30 days before such changes take effect for material modifications. Please review the Terms whenever we modify them. If you continue to use the Service after we post modified Terms, then such use indicates to us that you agree to be bound by the modified Terms. If you don't agree to be bound by the modified Terms, then please discontinue use of the Services.

Because the Services are evolving over time, we may change or discontinue all or any portion of the Services at any time, with reasonable notice to you when practicable.

Account Creation and Eligibility

Creating an account allows you to access personalized features including following representatives, tracking legislation, participating in community discussions, and receiving tailored civic information. You have the option to create an account to become a "Member."

If you create an account, you represent that:

You are thirteen (13) years or older
You are not barred from using the Services under applicable law
All information you provide is accurate and complete
You will maintain the accuracy of such information

Civic does not charge a fee to become a Member for basic services. Premium features may be available for a fee, which will be clearly disclosed.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if: (i) any information provided during the registration process or thereafter proves to be inaccurate, false, or misleading; (ii) you violate these Terms; or (iii) to reclaim any username that violates our Terms or community standards.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account and agree to notify us immediately if your password is lost, stolen, or disclosed to an unauthorized third party. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account.

Description of the Service

Civic provides a platform that makes learning about representatives, legislation, and elections accessible and engaging. The Service will allow users to:

Access information about elected representatives at federal, state, and local levels
Track and learn about current and proposed legislation
Stay informed about upcoming elections, candidates, and ballot measures
Participate in community discussions about civic issues
Access educational content about government processes and civic engagement
Connect with creators and communities focused on current events and civic discourse
Receive personalized updates and notifications about relevant civic information

Our platform aggregates publicly available government data, news, and information to provide users with comprehensive, non-partisan civic information. We strive to present information in an equitable, accessible manner that promotes informed civic participation.

Civic does its best to provide Members with accurate, up-to-date information and an excellent user experience. However, we rely on information from government sources and third parties that we do not control. We do not warrant that the information, including representative details, legislative updates, or election information shown through the Service is always accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. Users should verify important information through official government sources.

Community Guidelines and User Conduct

Civic is committed to fostering constructive civic discourse and maintaining an equitable space for all users. When using our Service, you agree to:

Do:

Engage respectfully with other users, even when disagreeing
Share factual, well-sourced information
Respect diverse viewpoints and experiences
Use the platform to promote constructive civic engagement
Report content that violates these guidelines

Don't:

Post content that is hateful, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory
Share false, misleading, or deliberately deceptive information
Engage in spam, manipulation, or inauthentic behavior
Use the Service to promote illegal activities
Attempt to suppress voting or democratic participation
Impersonate others or create fake accounts
Share private information about individuals without consent

We reserve the right to remove content and suspend or terminate accounts that violate these guidelines. We may also limit the distribution of content that, while not violating our guidelines, may be harmful to civic discourse.

Third-Party Content and Links

The Service may contain links to third-party websites, including government websites, news sources, and other civic organizations. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Some information displayed on Civic is sourced from government databases, news organizations, and other third parties. While we strive to use reliable sources, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of all third-party information and are not liable for errors or omissions in such content.

User-Generated Content

You may have the opportunity to post, upload, or share content on Civic, including comments, discussions, and other materials ("User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content, but by posting it on Civic, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, distribute, and modify your User Content in connection with the Service.

You represent and warrant that:

You own or have the necessary rights to your User Content
Your User Content does not violate these Terms or applicable law
Your User Content does not infringe on the rights of others

We reserve the right to remove User Content that violates these Terms or our community guidelines, but we are not obligated to monitor all User Content.

Intellectual Property

The Services contain material protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. We and our licensors exclusively own all right, title, and interest in the Services and our content, including all associated intellectual property rights.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, publish, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, create derivative works of, or otherwise exploit any of our content without our express written permission. Any violation may result in intellectual property infringement subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.

The Civic name, logo, and other trademarks are our property. You may not use our trademarks without our prior written consent.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy for information about how we collect, use, and protect your data. Our Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms and is available on our website and in our app.

Data Sources and Government Information

Civic aggregates information from various public sources, including:

Government databases and official websites
Public records and documents
News organizations and media outlets
Civic organizations and nonprofits

We strive to use authoritative, non-partisan sources but cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of all information. For the most current and official information, we encourage users to consult original government sources.

Feedback and Suggestions

We welcome feedback, comments, and suggestions for improvements to the Services. You can submit feedback through our app or by contacting us at civic.app.politics@gmail.com. By providing feedback, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, fully-paid, royalty-free license to use, copy, modify, and implement your feedback for any purpose related to improving our Services.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Civic, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (i) your use of the Services; (ii) your User Content; (iii) your violation of these Terms; or (iv) your violation of any rights of another party. This section shall survive termination of these Terms.

Termination

We may terminate your access to the Services at our sole discretion, with or without notice, for any reason including violation of these Terms. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using account deletion features in the app.

Upon termination, your right to use the Services ceases immediately. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnification, and limitations of liability.

Warranty Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. WE EXPLICITLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND QUIET ENJOYMENT.

WE MAKE NO WARRANTY THAT THE SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ANY INFORMATION WILL BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR CURRENT.

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CIVIC AND ITS AFFILIATES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, OR LOSS OF GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Services will be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, except that either party may seek injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm.

Before initiating arbitration, the parties agree to attempt good faith negotiations for sixty (60) days after written notice of the dispute.

Accessibility and Equal Access

Civic is committed to ensuring equal access to civic information for all users. We strive to make our Services accessible to users with disabilities and comply with applicable accessibility standards. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can work to address them.

We are committed to providing civic information and engagement opportunities equitably across different communities, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Information Standards and Editorial Positions

While Civic provides a platform for civic discourse and may present diverse viewpoints, we are committed to ensuring that our core information services—including data about representatives, legislation, and elections—remain unbiased. We strive to present civic information in a neutral manner that allows users to make informed decisions.

Civic reserves the right to take editorial positions, make endorsements, or express viewpoints on candidates, ballot measures, or political issues when we believe doing so serves our mission of promoting civic engagement and democratic participation. Any such positions will be clearly identified as Civic's editorial stance and will be separate from our factual information services.

User-generated content reflects the views of individual users and does not represent Civic's positions or endorsements unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Civic regarding the Services and supersede any prior agreements. If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

You may not assign these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

Our failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by our authorized representative.

Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: civic.app.politics@gmail.com

Website: civicpolitics.com

These Terms will remain in effect until modified or terminated in accordance with their provisions.