Power Shifting Index (Draft)

 

Below is the beginning of a framework for assessing if and how power is shifting from political institutions to citizens.   Each area has a description and specific measurements for campaigns and citizen/government interactions that we can use to assess the power shift.

 

 

Interactivity

 

Description: 

 

Candidates and elected officials must engage in conversations with constituents, not pronouncements or declarations.  This means moving to a two-way discussion that involves listening as well as openly receiving input to affect policy.

 

Campaign Measures: 

 

•  Can citizens comment on blogs?
•  Are citizens invited to participate in debates, web chats and other conversations in unfiltered ways?
•  Are politicians themselves engaged in conversations? 
•  If not, is it clear who is speaking and what position they hold?

 

Government Measures:

 

•   Do officials regularly ask for input and keep citizens advised as to what happened as a result?
•   Do officials provide regular updates on their activities and ask for feedback?
•   Do officials meet with residents and citizens to discuss issues on a regular basis outside of campaign cycles?

 

 

 

Control

 

Description:

 

Loosening the desire for total control of messages and activities by politicians is a critical element to rebalancing the relationship between govening and governed.   In what ways are campaigns and officials encouraging constituents to more fully participate?

 

• Are constituents encouraged to self-organize? 

   

• Are self-organized events or activities embraced and encouraged by the campaign (e.g. do they provide support, guidance, encourage others to do the same?) 

   

• Are there interactions with campaigns and staffs that are about more than fundraising?

 

 

Transparency

 

Description:

 

These are our potential and elected officials. What they do, with whom, and when are important to us.  What they share about what they do and how indicates how they feel about their relationship with their constituents. 

 

Campaign Measures:

 

• Is it clear who works for the campaign?

   

• Is it clear who funds them? 

 

Government Measures:

 

• Are their schedules and calendars public?
• Is it clear who funds them?
• Do elected officials continue to talk with with their constituents after elections?

 

 

Removing Barriers to Participation

 

Description:

 

It is one thing for those in power to passively encourage participation by citizens, another to actively remove barriers to involvement.  One of the overarching philosphies of governance needs to be providing access to services, access to people in power and opportunities to provide input, information and voice for constituents.

 

Campaign Measures:

 

Something about where meetings are held/publicized, voter registration, polling places, election day?

 

Governing Measures: 

 

 

•  Are meetings held in neighborhoods?

   

• Is information about voting registration and polling places lnked to and readily available?
• Are meetings open and minutes of meetings shared publicly
•