- Value [1] Multi-Partisanship
- Value [2] Non-Profit
- Value [3] Hard Work
- Value [4] Self-Governance
- Value [5] Democratic Governance
- Value [6] Legitimacy
- The Davenport Institute defines "legitimate" civic engagement as having four main ingredients. In different contexts, budgets
and timelines can affect the degree to which these elements can be developed; these are not quests of political science "purity."
Nonetheless, we believe the following pieces should be integrated to the degree possible.
- Value [7] Information
- 1. Incorporating results of engagement into actual decision-making process: The proof of a real civic involvement process
is how it informs the policy-making framework. This often means that elected and administrative officials are at a point where
they can "take their hands off the wheel" of the outcomes from such an effort. This does not demand that leaders must guarantee
implementation of the opinions offered in a civic engagement initiative, but it does mean that they formalize how the results
will be considered.
- Value [8] Formalization
- Value [9] Unbiased
- 2. Presenting of unbiased information to participants: One way public involvement processes can be manipulated is through
the deliberation of slanted or biased information. Most policy issues have two if not multiple considerations. These should
be presented in an honest way for the public's consideration. The best way this happens is to involve "stakeholders" in the
early stages of the process, having them agree to central information elements, which will then go before citizens. Having
participants make the tough "trade off" decisions that officials must make can only occur when they are provided with the
same information.
- Value [10] Honesty
- Value [11] Trade Offs
- Value [12] Representation
- 3. Gathering a representative and diverse group of participants: Engagement efforts can also be affected by the people assembled
to discuss an issue. Outreach programs that elicit a variety of perspectives and ethnicities are a vital part of any legitimate
campaign.
- Value [13] Diversity
- Value [14] Participation
- Value [15] Engagement
- Value [16] Outreach
- Value [17] Facilitation
- 4. Facilitating the discussion in a way that involves all participants: Once citizens are brought "to the table", results
of deliberations can still be determined by ineffective facilitation. This can often happen in the usual "Town Hall" format,
where citizens are restricted to a couple minutes at a microphone addressing an entire decision-making body. Breaking down
these discussions into small group dialogues provides a more inclusive and deliberative environment in which to discuss a
particular policy issue. It also brings citizens from varying perspectives into contact with one another - an important part
of any civic engagement exercise.
- Value [18] Inclusiveness
- Value [19] Deliberation
- Value [20] Perspectives
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