As leaders, we are not the most important people here today. It is the civil society leaders who, in many ways, are going to have the more lasting impact, because as the saying goes, the most important title is not president or prime minister; the most important title is citizen.
Former President of the United States of America
Responsible actor: Parliament, legislators, parliamentary caucuses, political parties
Parliaments can undertake awareness raising campaigns to educate citizens on the function of parliament and expose them to existing participation mechanisms and/or promote participation in a specific process. These can include print or online advertisement through traditional or social media, or by mailing flyers or other documentation. Campaigns can also be established in collaboration with civil society organizations.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.18).
Traditional and social media campaign to inform citizens about the importance of the Freedom of Information bill and its potential impact on citizens' lives
E-book to inform citizens about the role and work of the National Assembly
Diploma in legislative management available for parliamentary staff and the general public
Responsible actor: Parliament
A citizen participation office or communications department can have various mandates, from educating citizens on the role of the parliament, to disseminating information on the work of the parliament, and collecting direct input from citizens into the legislative process.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.19).
Parliamentary office with a mandate to inform citizens on parliamentary functions and processes, and involve them in the legislative process.
Parliamentary office that provides information on the legislature, its work, and promotes dialogue with citizens
Parliamentary department with a mandate to deliver outreach programs, create publications and educational material, and provide services to Members of Parliament
Responsible actor: Parliament
As a hub of information, parliaments’ websites can include a section to educate citizens about their role, work and impacts on citizens, as well as another explaining the mechanisms by which citizens can participate in the legislative process. Parliaments can also advertise these pages online and through social media to attract visitors.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.19).
Webpages presenting the functions and history of the Congress and providing answers to frequently asked questions.
Webpages presenting the functions and history of the Parliament, educational resources, activities for youth and for teachers, and methods of citizen participation
Webpages presenting the functions and history of the Parliament, educational resources, activities for youth and for teachers, and methods of citizen participation
Responsible actor: Parliament, political parties
Learning about the role and value of parliament at an early age can prepare children and youth to become politically active citizens. Such programs can be virtual or in-person, and include interactions with parliamentarians, games, simulations of parliamentary processes, prizes, and interactive materials tailored for children and youth.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.20).
Simulation of parliamentary sessions in the National Congress where children elected from their schools assume the role of parliamentarians
Project to familiarize youth with the work of the Parliament through three games: Webwalk, a boardgame and Quartet
E-book to inform citizens about the role and work of the National Assembly
Simulation of parliamentary sessions held in parliament and live streamed to teach young people about parliamentary work
Responsible actor: Parliament, legislators, committees
While town hall meetings can be held to invite citizens to participate in a particular legislative issue, they can also be useful mechanisms to educate citizens on the role and functions of the parliament, to explain the day-to-day impact of legislative issues to citizens’ lives and to share the ways in which citizens can get involved.
A practical example is listed below.
In-person meetings and forums held in several towns to educate citizens on the role of parliament and on various governance issues, including important local government reforms
Responsible actor: Parliament
Guided tours of the offices of parliament accompanied by commentary on the history, role and processes of this institution, and the opportunity to attend sessions of the plenary and/or committee meetings can be educational for citizens and contribute to building their interest to engage in the legislative process.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.21).
Guided tours offered regularly to individuals and schools, and ability to attend and observe parliamentary sittings on a first-come, first-served basis
“Open Door Assembly” Project, offering guided tours and a virtual tour; citizens can attend sittings by request
Guided tours offered regularly and ability to attend parliamentary sittings
Responsible actor: Parliament, Legislators, Parliamentary Caucuses
Parliamentarians can contribute to building a strong and independent civil society by promoting and supporting the work of civil society organizations, including parliamentary monitoring organizations, by participating in their activities, contributing to their projects and encouraging citizens to work with them.
Parliamentary monitoring initiative in which a civil society organization worked with citizens to build a Manifesto for the Future, and is monitoring government and parliament's actions as it relates to this manifesto
Non-governmental organization mandated to promote equal representation of women in Canada’s Parliament, in provincial/territorial legislatures, and on municipal and band councils
Responsible actor: Parliament, legislators, parliamentary caucuses, political parties, committees
Parliaments can provide incentives to citizens to encourage their participation. These can include awards, prizes, public record of input, or even providing online users special benefits based on the frequency they use a particular participation mechanism.
Some practical examples are listed below.
Online portal providing a space for citizens to present legislative topics for online discussion or to comment on specific legislative proposals
Prize awarded to organizations annually for their involvement in citizen participation processes at various levels of government
Responsible actor: Parliament, legislators, parliamentary caucuses, political parties, committees
Through its own parliamentary television and radio channels, collaboration with State-owned or private channels, online or printed newspapers, and new digital platforms such as YouTube and podcasts, the parliament can develop content to inform citizens of its role and functions and mechanisms that are available for citizens to participate in its work, as well as live-stream its proceedings.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.22).
Public television channel that provides live broadcasts of parliamentary sittings, with interpretation for the hearing-impaired
Congressional radio station that transmits legislative proceedings and discusses the work of the Congress; similarly, both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate live stream sessions
YouTube video explaining the function of the European Parliament, promoted by the parliament through its various social media accounts
Responsible actor: Parliament, legislators, parliamentary caucuses, political parties
Parliaments can disseminate educational information or updates on their work through social media accounts, as a cost-effective practice, particularly through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snap Chat which are the most widely used across the world. Facebook pages can be customized to include features specific to the parliament, and Facebook Live is a free feature that can be used for educational and awareness-raising purposes and allows for sharing of live videos and receipt of live comments from viewers.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.23).
Facebook page used to promote parliamentary work and encourages citizens to view live streams of sessions, visit parliament and participate in exchanges with parliamentarians
Tweets inviting citizens to participate in Senate debates through the mobile application "Mi Senado"
Live streaming of ordinary and extraordinary plenary sessions, in addition to parliamentary activities with citizen participation; the Congress also has YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts
Responsible actor: Parliament, legislators, parliamentary caucuses, political parties
The way in which information is displayed and provided to citizens can impact their ability to understand it, as well as their interest in accessing it. This is particularly important in the case of budgetary and financial data which can be quite complex for individuals without this particular skillset.
Some practical examples are listed below. For a more exhaustive list, please consult the Toolkit on Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process (p.23).
Tool developed by the Library of Congress to visualize budgetary allocations, including historical information
Series of online tools created to allow parliamentarians and citizens to estimate the potential impacts of various policy changes
The following practices have been submitted by parliamentarians and related stakeholders, and describe techniques that can be applied to:
Educating Citizens and Promoting Participation
