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Helping "Concerned Volunteers Working Out Of Their Kitchens": Funding Citizen Participation In Administrative Decision Making, Marcia Valiante, W. A. Bogart

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

Broad citizen participation in decision making by administrative bodies is important in achieving fairness, improving the quality of decisions, and realizing accountability and legitimacy. Yet such broad participation often hinges on adequate financial capacity. In this regard, the authors review a number of mechanisms used for funding citizen participation. These mechanisms are variations of essentially two models: public funding (direct and indirect) and direct funding by proponents. The article concludes with a plea for such mechanisms--even in a time of severe financial restraint-as one reflection of a vigorous participatory democracy.