Electronic Services and Democracy

Presentation by Steven Clift, Co-Editor G8 Democracy and GOL Services Publication (Former Project Coordinator, Minnesota Government Online) Contact information: clift@publicus.net, http://www.publicus.net

Democracy and GOL

G8 Democracy and Government Online Services Publication

17 Chapters from around the world with a governmental perspective

Co-Editors - Olov Ostberg (Sweden), Steven Clift with John Gotze (Sweden)

http://www.statskontoret.se /gol-democracy/

Democracy and GOL 1. Sustainable Interactivity For Government Web Sites, Canada 2. Public Dialogue and Citizens' Bureaux in Sweden 3. The Impact of Government Online Initiatives on Democratic

Participation, State of Victoria, Australia 4. Language-Enhanced Telematic Services European Actions,

Developments and Future Requirements Toward Democracy within the Information Society

5. Building Accessible Information Technology in Wisconsin, United States

6. IPERBOLE/INTERNET Bologna “civic network” service: telematics for citizens, businesses, third sector

7. Beyond Information Online - Using the Internet to Strengthen Democracy, State of Kansas, United States

8. "A ma sante": to Promote Citizen Participation in the Evolution of the Quebec Health and Social Services Sector, Canada

Democracy and GOL

9. Teledemocracy, Finland 10. INFOCID – A single window for citizenship in Portugal 11. Democracy and technology, Iceland 12. Operating Government in an On-line World: Balancing Access

with the Needs to Govern Effectively, State of Ohio, United States 13. The GovNews Project: Enabling Public and Government

Communication Using Internet News, United States 14. Electronic Democracy in the Republic of Korea 15. HUD Reinvention Creates Online Opportunities for Public

Housing, City of Simi Valley, California, United States 16. Citizen's Participation through Internet, Barcelona, Spain 17. UK Citizens Online Democracy: An Experiment in

Government-Supported Online Public Space

Reflections

Disconnect between GOL and Democracy tied to administrative/legislative divisions in government

Online medium can automate, but also expose agencies to fundamental questions about provision of services

“Service Democracy” is about customer service and continuous feedback, surveys

Is there something more?

Reflections

What to do? Build a Democracy Page Agency mission and function Describe legal authority, jurisdiction, budget Advise public on how to most effectively

provide input into the fundamental mission and operations of the agency

Guide customer service concerns elsewhere Allow users to opt-into interaction with head

of agency/office, elected officials or each other

ConclusionDemocracy is the decision-making inefficiency

required for the best public choicesInternet will change the way public decisions

are made and who makes themNeed democracy online check list and case

studies for agencies and parliamentsNeed to network online leaders and projects in

parliaments, legislatures, and governor, president and prime minister offices

Continuum for Democracy

Continuum of Government Online Support for Democracy All points assume the availability of remote electronic information access through

the Internet. A. Access to basic contact information. B. Access to basic purpose and function information. C. Access to basic government information on voting and elections. D. Access to directories of government organizations and services. E. Ability to contact the government organization through multiple

methods including e-mail. F. Access to detailed information explaining the decision-making

process, public participation opportunities, and functioning of a government organization.

G. Timely access to up-to-date schedules of all public meetings, hearings, and other events that make up the formal decision-making process.

Continuum for Democracy

H. Ability to communicate electronically directly with individuals or appropriate contacts points within the government organization as a part of the participatory, decision-making, or formal complaint process.

I. Use of informal online comment forms, surveys, and other feedback tools.

J. Consistent and reliable access to all legally disclosable government information generated as a part of the official decision-making process (legislative, administrative rulemaking, official recommendations from councils and other appointed bodies).

K. Provision of searchable information locator tools to indices or full text of publicly available government documents and information.

L. Push distribution of timely information or pre-set preference determined decision-making information as it becomes available on government information access systems.

Continuum for Democracy

M. Use of interactive technology (video or audio conferencing) to allow remote public testimony or observation as well as member attendance and voting at in-person public meetings.

N. Special interactive online events are hosted by government organizations to complement in-person public participation or education programs on government activities and public issues.

O. Ongoing use of interactive online events and communication spaces.

P. Establishment of formal electronic information request mechanisms for government information that is not available publicly online, but is legally available upon request.

Q. Access and remote use of database tools for access to detailed government budget, spending, and other public accountability information.

Continuum for Democracy

R. Access and remote use of database tools for access to legally available campaign finance, spending, elected official expense information and lobbyist information.

S. Automated remote access to drafts, internal proposals, and other more politically sensitive, but legally public documents. (Many laws prohibit this deep of access while others allow specific requests for documents to be met under various conditions.)

T. Ability to legally register to vote or update citizen registry information online.

U. Ability to vote in elections or referendums through ones preferred secure method including those that use information technology.

… V. W. X. Y. Z. - The A-Z for GOL and Democracy!

By Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net