Petitioning parliament by mouse
If e-government seems to be mainly about doing tax
returns online, then e-democracy is its more exciting cousin, promising to put
citizens at centre stage of the political process.
E-democracy projects are springing up all over the UK. They range from online surgeries for councillors, to e-enabled citizens' panels and local government information via text message.
The BBC has joined the throng with its own Action Network website, an open forum inviting people to start campaigns in their local communities.
Doing its bit for e-democracy is the Scottish parliament which has been running an e-petitioning system for a year now.
It has begun a very new type of political debate.
I think I’ll forward this to Congress. Should I hold my breath?
A third of all petitions are now submitted to the Scottish parliament electronically and the e-system has distinct advantages.
Rather than just sign their names to a cause they agree with, people are invited to join an interactive forum to discuss their views in more detail, offering insights, web links and background information on a particular topic or even express opposition to an idea.
Current e-petitions cover a whole range of issues, including the threat to rural schools, affordable housing, world poverty and the Scottish haulage industry.
Each one will go before the Public Petitions Committee, and what the government do with it, which department they send it to and which experts they consult, are published on the website, along with any eventual changes to actual legislation.
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Michael McMahon, convener (chair) of the Public Petitions Committee, thinks its global reach and the fact that it creates a dialogue are the two main benefits of the e-petitioning system.
"It is a two-way process at all times and anyone in the world can contribute to our government," he said.
It is not just citizens from other countries who are getting involved. An adapted version of the system is currently being adopted by Germany, which has one of the biggest parliaments in the EU.
Posted: Sun - September 18, 2005 at 08:40 AM