How the Scores are Determined

North Carolina House and Senate members are ranked on an effectiveness scale from zero to 100, with zero being the least supportive of freedom and 100 being the most supportive to freedom.

Cumulative scores are calculated on a rolling basis by awarding a 100 for every freedom-minded vote and a 0 for every freedom-limiting vote, then dividing the total by the number of graded votes up to that point.

If a legislator missed a vote without requesting an excused absence or excused vote, it is counted the same as voting against the freedom-minded position.

If a legislator had an excused absence or excused vote, the missed vote is not counted against his or her total and reduces the number of eligible votes on which he or she is scored. For example, if there are 50 votes graded towards the rankings, and a legislator had an excused absence for one vote, he or she would only be scored on 49 votes.

About the Freedom Rankings

The Civitas Action Freedom Rankings are the only ranking systems in North Carolina that allow citizens to gauge how effective their state legislators are at expanding and defending freedom.

The purpose of the Freedom Rankings is to inform the public, in as unbiased a method as possible, where individual legislators stand on issues of freedom.

Civitas Action tracks a variety of issues before the North Carolina General Assembly, ranging from taxes and spending to social issues. Civitas Action selects bills and amendments that reflect a legislator’s commitment to freedom, as expressed by the ideals of the free-market, limited government, personal responsibility, and civic engagement. Civitas Action scores each member’s vote on important legislation, amendments and motions to gauge his or her commitment to expanding freedom in North Carolina.