Advancing Democracy Through Participatory Reforms in Legislative Processes

Around the globe, governments are considering the challenge of improving participatory democracy. The Global Innovations in Democracy Summit facilitated an exchange of ideas on this topic. The Summit included legislators from countries around the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States. These countries share a similar perspective on participatory government: democracy is better with more constituents participating in the legislative process.

In the United States, voter turnout is about 60% in presidential elections and 40% in midterm elections. This leaves the U.S. ranking 31st out of 49 countries in democratic participation. In Nigeria, less than 30% of voters turned out in the 2023 presidential election. These numbers indicate that constituents are disconnected from participating in government. Governments have the opportunity to improve their collaboration with constituents to increase civic participation. Innovation in democracy is a topic being addressed globally. Knowledge from around the world informs methods to reform and improve democratic participation.

What Is a Participatory Democracy?

When we think of democracy, many of us are thinking specifically of “participatory democracy.” In a participatory democracy, citizens are empowered to participate in and influence the direction of their communities. It’s a form of democracy that relies on active civic participation and collaboration between governments and their constituents.

Active civic participation or engagement goes beyond voting during election cycles. It includes other activities like:

• Volunteerism and community service
• Community organizing and mobilizing
• Participation in civic meetings and forums
• Civic education and awareness about what is happening within communities
• Engaging with policymakers and stakeholders.

The ability to participate in one’s community is a key indicator of a responsive government. Constituents’ ideas and feedback are the data points needed to make effective and informed decisions. Without this participation, public policies and laws can have negative long-term effects on communities.

Key Aspects of a Participatory Democracy

Several key traits characterize a thriving participatory democracy. Read below to learn more.

Transparency and Accessibility

A lever that governments can use to increase public participation is to build trust amongst communities. Once trust is gained, it must be reinforced. Providing access to important civic information and the legislative process can sustain trust in government.

Embracing user-friendly digital experiences is one way that governments can be transparent. Technology enables information to be shared more frequently, accurately, and directly to people. Recent initiatives in Brazil serve as an example of user-friendly, transparent government information. The country has implemented open government initiatives such as Participatory Budgeting, which allows citizens to directly vote on how public funds are spent within their municipality. Studies have shown that participatory institutions in Brazil do improve the lives of citizens. These initiatives aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in government decision-making and public spending. With these types of participatory programs, the Brazilian government is enabling its citizens to monitor government actions, participate in policy discussions, and collaborate with public officials to address local needs and priorities.

Strengthening Citizen Education and Awareness

Awareness of public policy and democratic processes strengthens civic participation. For governments, fostering and promoting well-informed communities is crucial. Doing so provides the public with the agency to make decisions that are best for their communities.

There are many methods through which to educate citizens, particularly young people. Integrating civic education in schools and introducing civil society topics throughout all levels of school curriculum is key. Empowering young people to understand how democracy works and how it applies to their daily lives helps to foster a sense of civic responsibility that will last a lifetime. When citizens are more informed, policy outcomes are more effective.

Governments can also work to collaborate with community-based organizations to support civic education. Advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations already work closely within their communities. Engagement with public policy and awareness campaigns is an important tool in service of the community. The awareness enables constituents to be more proactive and less reactive in addressing challenges. Civic awareness empowers constituents to know:

• Who represents them
• Where to reach their representatives
• How to engage with their representatives
• What to expect from the development of public policy

Challenges to Consider

There are certainly challenges to implementing participatory reforms. With large and diverse populations, governments face the challenge with balancing inclusivity with efficiency.

Leaning on digital tools and technology to improve civic engagement is also a challenge. Not all digital tools are available to everyone. The internet and devices like cell phones and computers are not necessarily free and accessible to all. If governments rely solely on digital experiences to engage constituents, many may be left out. Governments must engage hybrid methods of engaging with communities, both digitally and in person.

Looking Ahead

With 2024 being a major election year in the United States, it’s important to remember that civic participation does not only occur every four years of a presidential election cycle. Rather, it is a daily activity that people must engage with.

Promoting active participation in the democratic process is critical for a representative democracy. There are plenty of tools that are available to help engage constituents. Educating young people about ways to shape the policies that affect their daily lives is a crucial way to inspire the next generation of civic participants. Platforms like Plural can also change the way that communities keep up with the policy changes that impact them.

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