DQ 6-1

DQ6-1 Responses.

1. Citizen engagement in public administration is important to adopt a healthy democracy and prevent the abuses of government. The impact of low individual participation can be great. Studies show that individual participation is linked to “advancement of personal interest, the development of obligation and duty, greater interest in social issues, the development of skills and the ability to work with others” (Engbers, 2016). During a budget process, some techniques that I would use to gain citizen engagement are creating a strategic plan to gain every audience’s attention through understanding what they are looking for and care about. Personalized messages that really grasp the public’s attention will gather a greater response from the public in regards to the budget process. Ensuring these messages are clear and concise will help the public better understand and for local governments to get a better response.

Reference

Engbers, T. A. (2016). Building community? The characteristics of America’s most civic cities. Journal of Public Affairs (14723891), 16(1), 50–56. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/pa.1567

2.

IIn any type of partnership, transparency is key. Citizen engagement and public administration is in some ways, a partnership. Both public administrators and citizens want the same thing; what is best for the community. To do this, they have to work together and they have to be open and honest. Citizens must be allowed to access documents, proceedings, minute entries and data pertaining to any legislation enacted by that government (Vaz, 2014).

Along with being transparent, comes working together. It is imperative that the community feels as though their concerns are being heard, this can be done in a number of ways. During the budget process some techniques that can be used to engage citizens and help them feel as though their input is valued are: holding open forums, town/city meetings, citizen surveys and open discussions. If citizens feel that public administrators are listening to them and collectively are working to appease the majority and put the money where it is needed, this will benefit everyone in the community. Public administrators will have had a chance to persuade the public and get them on their side, to see the reason for wanting to put money in certain areas. Citizens will also have a chance to voice their opinions and help community leaders understand why they feel monies need to be allocated to certain areas, as well. All around, just working together, being transparent and hashing out these important discussions together, instead of apart, will help the community grow in the right direction.

Resource

Vaz, A. (2014). Expanding the Role of Public Administration: From Citizen Participation to Open Government. Retrieved from https://patimes.org/expanding-role-public-administration-citizen-participation-open-governmen

3. You can address the question by defining/describing citizen engagement? What is the essence?