There are many misconceptions about how state and local government decision making process. Some believe that government officials sit in a room and vote on issues until a majority is reached. Others think that lobbyists or wealthy donors can buy decisions from elected officials. The truth is much more complex than either of these scenarios.
What should I know about this?
In reality, governments typically use a decision-making process designed to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the process.
One of the critical components of this process is public involvement. This involves ensuring that the public is aware of any decisions or policies being considered and providing opportunities for them to share their opinions on these issues. State and local governments often hold open meetings where members of the public can learn about new policy proposals and even have an opportunity to share their thoughts on those proposals before elected officials ultimately decide upon them. They may also create online portals for citizens to submit comments or concerns about proposed changes in policy via email or web forms.
We hope this information has been useful to you.