Electronic Services and Democracy zPresentation by Steven Clift, Co-Editor G8 Democracy and GOL Services Publication (Former Project Coordinator, Minnesota Government Online) Contact information:

Democracy and GOL zG8 Democracy and Government Online Services Publication z17 Chapters from around the world with a governmental perspective zCo-Editors - Olov Ostberg (Sweden), Steven Clift with John Gotze (Sweden) /gol-democracy/

Democracy and GOL z1. Sustainable Interactivity For Government Web Sites, Canada z2. Public Dialogue and Citizens' Bureaux in Sweden z3. The Impact of Government Online Initiatives on Democratic Participation, State of Victoria, Australia z4. Language-Enhanced Telematic Services European Actions, Developments and Future Requirements Toward Democracy within the Information Society z5. Building Accessible Information Technology in Wisconsin, United States z6. IPERBOLE/INTERNET Bologna civic network service: telematics for citizens, businesses, third sector z7. Beyond Information Online - Using the Internet to Strengthen Democracy, State of Kansas, United States z8. "A ma sante": to Promote Citizen Participation in the Evolution of the Quebec Health and Social Services Sector, Canada

Democracy and GOL z9. Teledemocracy, Finland z10. INFOCID – A single window for citizenship in Portugal z11. Democracy and technology, Iceland z12. Operating Government in an On-line World: Balancing Access with the Needs to Govern Effectively, State of Ohio, United States z13. The GovNews Project: Enabling Public and Government Communication Using Internet News, United States z14. Electronic Democracy in the Republic of Korea z15. HUD Reinvention Creates Online Opportunities for Public Housing, City of Simi Valley, California, United States z16. Citizen's Participation through Internet, Barcelona, Spain z17. UK Citizens Online Democracy: An Experiment in Government- Supported Online Public Space

Reflections zDisconnect between GOL and Democracy tied to administrative/legislative divisions in government zOnline medium can automate, but also expose agencies to fundamental questions about provision of services zService Democracy is about customer service and continuous feedback, surveys zIs there something more?

Reflections zWhat to do? Build a Democracy Page yAgency mission and function yDescribe legal authority, jurisdiction, budget yAdvise public on how to most effectively provide input into the fundamental mission and operations of the agency yGuide customer service concerns elsewhere yAllow users to opt-into interaction with head of agency/office, elected officials or each other

Conclusion zDemocracy is the decision-making inefficiency required for the best public choices zInternet will change the way public decisions are made and who makes them zNeed democracy online check list and case studies for agencies and parliaments zNeed to network online leaders and projects in parliaments, legislatures, and governor, president and prime minister offices

Continuum for Democracy zContinuum of Government Online Support for Democracy yAll points assume the availability of remote electronic information access through the Internet. zA. Access to basic contact information. zB. Access to basic purpose and function information. zC. Access to basic government information on voting and elections. zD. Access to directories of government organizations and services. zE. Ability to contact the government organization through multiple methods including . zF. Access to detailed information explaining the decision-making process, public participation opportunities, and functioning of a government organization. zG. 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 zH. 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. zI. Use of informal online comment forms, surveys, and other feedback tools. zJ. 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). zK. Provision of searchable information locator tools to indices or full text of publicly available government documents and information. zL. 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 zM. 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. zN. Special interactive online events are hosted by government organizations to complement in-person public participation or education programs on government activities and public issues. zO. Ongoing use of interactive online events and communication spaces. zP. Establishment of formal electronic information request mechanisms for government information that is not available publicly online, but is legally available upon request. zQ. Access and remote use of database tools for access to detailed government budget, spending, and other public accountability information.

Continuum for Democracy zR. Access and remote use of database tools for access to legally available campaign finance, spending, elected official expense information and lobbyist information. zS. 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.) zT. Ability to legally register to vote or update citizen registry information online. zU. Ability to vote in elections or referendums through ones preferred secure method including those that use information technology. z… V. W. X. Y. Z. - The A-Z for GOL and Democracy! zBy Steven Clift,