#1: Planting the Seeds for Citizen Participation -- Founding a Democracy
(Examples and Issues)
When they created the United States and established its government, the founding
fathers were responding to their experiences as colonists. They had suffered under the
rule of a sovereign who held little regard for their well being, and who gave them no
voice in decisions regarding their lives and their property. They were therefore
determined to create a republic that valued individual freedoms, restricted the role of
government, and provided opportunities for redress for actions taken by the government.
#2: Recognizing the Need for Technical Assistance (Examples and
Issues)
This second era of participation begins in the early 1900's and continues until the
1960's. It is during this period that elected officials recognize a growing need for input
related to specific problems or issues. Out of this need is born an array of advisory
bodies and other organizations specifically charged with providing technical assistance
(and political advice) to an elected body. Most notably for planning, this is the era of
the planning commission.
The third era of citizen participation dominates the 1960's to the 1980's. Recognizing
that many citizens are not involved in the decision making processes that ultimately
affect their lives and property (and as a result of civil protest), governments instituted
requirements for public notice, public hearings, citizen advisory boards and task forces,
and other opportunities for citizen input in planning and programming decisions.
From each of the previous eras of citizen participation have come lessons regarding the
appropriateness and the value of public input and advice in government decision making.
Today, citizens play a more collaborative role, and are routinely involved in the
identification of problems as well as in their solutions, moving closer to a
"participatory democracy." Instead of leading or controlling planning and
programming processes, government agencies now serve in an advisory capacity and provide
technical assistance to citizens as they deliberate. Final decisions, though, are still
the responsibility of elected officials.
