Study Of Public Participation In Local Governmental Public Policy-making

Local governments play a key role in implementing the Central Government's policies, making local public policies, boosting local economic development and maintaining local social stability. Policy-making is a vital means by which local governments conduct their allotment of the social public interest. Hence, extending public participation is of far-reaching significance in the process of policy-making.Presently, the absence of public participation in policy-making process leads to inadequacy in justness and validity of the public policies. This thesis intends to make an in-depth analysis of such issues as the value of public participation and the reason for the absence and put forward countermeasures for reinforcing public participation from the perspective of notional shifts and system construction.In the introduction the author first briefly talks about the reason for choosing the subject, status quo and background of the research, and then advances the definitions of the main concepts like local government, public participation, public policies and so on.The thesis focuses on three aspects, namely the analysis of the value of public participation, the analysis of the reasons for public participation absence and analysis of countermeasures against public participation absence in policy-making process.Public participation is of significant value, which lies in the fact that it helps heighten the validity of the public policies, prevent failure of the public policies, raise the public' identification with the public policies and benefit the implementation of the policies as a result, maintain the social law and order.The reasons for the absence are as follows: exclusion of public from participation by governmental officials as a result of traditional selfish departmentalism; a lack of channels caused by centralized policy-making patterns; selfishness of local governments; the public' faint consciousness of their rights; no legal guarantee of public participation and a low standard in terms of procedures, organization and legalization of the participation; imperfect rules concerning public policy-making.Based on the reasons mentioned above, this thesis puts forward countermeasures to strengthen the public participation from the perspectives of notional shifts and system construction. In terms of notional shift local officials should build up scientific views on policy-making and leadership in the public participation. Above all, the role of local officials must be defined clearly. Secondly, the notion of serving the public must be enhanced. As for the public, incorrect notions must be rooted out before being able to participate actively in policy-making. With regard to system construction the priority must be given to perfection and legalization of relative law-making concerning the public participation. Secondly, the channels must be widened and effective systems mapped out. Finally, political culture construction must be strengthened and the public' awareness upgraded.