Q. We have had disappointing results in our efforts to increase attendance at public meetings. What can we do to improve this situation? A. Review your citizen participation procedures. Are they organized and systematic? Is notification of public meetings, as well as location, time and subject matter widely disseminated early enough to allow people to plan to attend? Or is dissemination done on a sporadic, helter-skelter, last minute "we'd better get some kind of word out about this" basis? Are the physical arangements and procedures for participation clearly organized to invite participation, or are they ignored, poorly designed, haphazard, and perhaps even calculated to discourage people from attending a meeting? Is adequate information being disseminated about the importance and nature of the meeting, or is a simple notification of time and place the order of the day? Overcoming citizen apathy requires long-term efforts. Between public hearings, time and effort must be spent on keeping the public informed and interested if attendance is to be improved. Q. Giving notice of public meetings through advertising is expensive. Are there other, more economical approaches? A. Keep in mind that not all notices of public meetings have to be made through commercial advertising. Some media outlets operate under licenses requiring a certain number of public service announcements. Check your local radio and television stations regarding the use of their free public service and public affairs announcements. Networks of community organizations can also be used to inform their own constituents of your plans. In addition, take advantage of community newspapers and other inexpensive, grassroots outlets on a non-advertising basis. Q. Why do citizen participation requirements vary from program to program? A. Because the programs are different and the goal of citizen participation is significantly different from program to program, and because the general philosophy, reflected in legislation and policy, has changed over a period of time. Some of the varied goals have been: (1) building a political power base -- Farm Services Administration in the 1930s; (2) gaining popular acceptance for a program -- Selective Service; (3) program maintenance -- early Urban Renewal Programs; (4) institutional reforms -- some of the juvenile delinquency programs of the late 1960s; and (5) attempting to deal with the structural causes of poverty and minority group inequities -- Community Action Programs. Q. Citizens often have difficulty in determining the citizen participation opportunities which apply to the various programs. How can we help? A. Encourage wide distribution of public information concerning citizen participation requirements and entitlements (including this booklet) and be sure program managers are fully informed themselves. Q. How can we stay up-to-date regarding Federal regulations on citizen participation? A. This is probably best accomplished through close liaison with the regional offices of the Federal departments and agencies funding programs in your community and with the Federal Regional Council in your region. The Federal Register (discussed elsewhere in this booklet) also provides current, detailed information on such requirements. NATIONAL LEVEL The Federal Register The Federal Register is a legal newspaper in which the Executive Branch of the government publishes regulations, orders, and other documents. The Administrative Procedures Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) provides that the departments and agencies of the government must publish proposed rules and regulations in the Federal Register prior to the issuance of final regulations. Properly promulgated, regulations published in the Federal Register have the force and effect of law. Prior to the establishment of the Federal Register, Congress would often pass legislation which contained both the broad policies of the law and specific conditions under which the laws were to be carried out. However, as Congress found itself dealing with more complex legislation and with complicated social, economic and technical issues, it delegated authority to the executive and independent agencies to issue specific regulations under which the laws would be implemented. In this respect, therefore, regulations may be viewed as "delegated legislation." Issues of the Federal Register have four sections: Presidential documents, Rules and Regulations, Proposed Rules, and Notices of general interest, including hearings and meetings which are open to the public. Individuals or organizations with an interest in certain government activities, or regulations, should carefully follow the Proposed Rules section of the Federal Register. This section contains the public notice of regulatory action being considered by a Federal agency before it becomes final. At this point, the public is invited to comment - either by letter or at a hearing. The comment period is usually between 30 and 90 days. The Federal Register gives detailed instructions on how, when, and where a viewpoint can be expressed. The Federal Register, therefore, not only provides an opportunity for the citizen to be informed of his/her rights, obligations, and often, the benefits of government, but also the opportunity to participate in Federal rulemaking decisions. The Federal Register is issued daily, Monday through Friday, with issues running between 150 and 300 pages. Many public libraries and all Federal Depository Libraries have copies of the Federal Register on file. (Your local librarian can direct you to the nearest Federal Depository Library.) Subscriptions are available at rates of $5 per month or $50 per year, and may be obtained by writing the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The staff of the Federal Register presents an educational workshop at its Washington office each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. entitled "The Federal Register: What It Is and How To Use It." This workshop is open to members of the public who are interested in learning to use the Federal Register. Reservations to attend may be made by calling 202-523-5282. When this program is given outside of Washington, D.C., it is announced in advance in the Federal Register. National Advisory Bodies The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, P.L. 92-463, provides for the creation of national advisory bodies to be established by statute, Presidential directive, or at the discretion of an individual Federal agency. They are created to advise and make recommendations to both the President and the agencies and officers of the Federal government. National Advisory Committees can be an important means through which the Federal government can secure expert advice, ideas and diverse opinions. They also provide opportunities for the public to further participate in the governmental decision making process. National Advisory Committees are responsible to the President or to the head of individual agencies or departments, and work under the general guidance of the Office of Management and Budget. Each agency head is required to establish uniform administrative guidelines and management controls for the advisory committee(s) established for that agency. Such committees are required to submit at least one annual report to the President or his delegates on their activities, including recommendations. The Executive Branch in turn reports to the Congress, submitting proposals for action with respect to the recommendations contained in the reports. Membership on National Advisory Committees is by appointment, and is required by statute to be "fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the advisory committee. . . ." The authorizing legislation also contains provisions to assure that the advice and recommendations of the advisory committee will not be inappropriately influenced by the appointing authority or by any special interest, but will instead be the result of the advisory committee's independent judgment. Each committee meeting is required to be open to the public, with timely notice of each meeting published in the Federal Register. Regulations also provide for other types of public notice to insure that all interested persons are notified in advance of such meetings. In addition, it is required that records, reports, transcripts, minutes, etc., be made available for public inspection. The Administration is reviewing all National Advisory Committees to assure the continuation of active committees that provide talent and balanced opinions and contribute to open, effective government. A partial listing of these may be found in the U.S. Government Manual, published annually by the Government Printing Office. A comprehensive list is available in the Encyclopedia of Government Advisory Organizations, published by the Gale Research Company and available in most libraries. |