In an effort to increase students' preparation for and participation in civic life, teachers and schools across the United States have incorporated action civics programs into their social studies courses. These programs resemble many of the key characteristics of the public policy analysis process. However, there is little evidence suggesting…

Chetty et al. (2022) say county density of cross-class friendships (referred to here as "adult-bridging capital") has causal impacts on social mobility within the United States. We instead find that social mobility rates are a function of county density of family capital (higher marriage rates and two-person households), community…

Scientific societies play an important role in scientists' career development and can have an impact on scientific advancement. The current study explores scientific societies' view of and support for public engagement. Interviews with key actors of 21 US-based scientific societies suggest that societies recognize the value of public engagement…

Policy makers today rely primarily on technical data as their basis for decision making. Yet, there is a potentially underestimated value in substantive reflections of the members of the public who will be affected by a particular regulation. Viewing professional policy makers and professional commenters as a community of practice, we describe…

Democracy has been weakened in the United Kingdom with citizens increasingly frustrated at not being able to shape government decisions in any meaningful way. State actions at the local and national level are at risk of becoming even more influenced by vested private interests. This poses a major challenge to the democratic health of the country.…

Discusses public participation methods that aim to include the public in policy making. (Author/CCM)

Among the possible procedures and devices that can sharpen government sensitivity to the needs of citizens and provide for participation in the formulation of long-range public policy, interactive computers seem the most promising. Users could make computer-based explorations of future alternatives, and then provide policy makers with a sample of…

Social entrepreneurs are private citizens who play critical roles in bringing about catalytic changes in the public sector agenda and the perception of social issues. Factors that make their projects--such as the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and Earth Day--successful include problem complexity, credibility, and a commitment to a collective…

This paper evaluates a new form of public participation in environmental monitoring and regulation advanced through local "bucket brigades," which allow community members to sample air emissions near industrial facilities. These brigades represent a new form of community environmental policing, in which residents participate in collecting,…

Addresses the need for a better public understanding of science and calls on the scientific community particularly the behavioral science sector, to take an active role in meeting the need. (Author/AM)

There is a growing movement to demand reparations for Japanese incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II. The movement is progressing at a period when those in power are reacting against programs that support Asian Americans. Americans must not ignore the issue as they did 40 years ago. (Author/MJL)

Basic information about cable television (CATV) and significant related issues is presented. The book is designed to serve both as a college text for communications students and as a reference and guide for government officials, educators, and other citizens. The individual chapters deal with the following topics: 1) an introduction to cable…

Citizen involvement in the public decision-making process can be facilitated if appropriate forms and functions of involvement are used. The issue cycle, which can help public officials to ensure that citizens have constructive and timely input into the decision-making process, involves awareness of some condition in the community; community…

The author argues that the appropriate type of citizen participation in an extension community development program depends on the goal for the program: creating community improvements or public policy education at the local level. He discusses the conflicting community-planning requirements between the two and stresses the need for extension…