Improving Citizen Participation and Feedback in Your Bagh: AManual on Town Halls
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This format is quite flexible depending upon the goals
of the officials. If consensus about a specific policy or pro-
gram is sought or if the issue at hand is particularly com-
plex, utilizing small group discussion groups may be advisa-
ble. However, small group discussions will require a skilled
facilitator to ensure that groups stay on target and that time
is well managed. If officials want constituents to consider a
range of perspectives and give feedback on all of those per-
spectives without necessarily coming to consensus then the
question and answer option may be more relevant.
Representative town hall
In cases where citizens’ groups already exist, whether is-
sue specific or covering a range of issues, it may be useful
to hold a representative town hall. Whereas the other town
hall formats are open to any constituents’ comments, a rep-
resentative town hall takes place with only specific civil so-
ciety and citizens’ groups as participants. All constituents
are able to attend, but only the groups chosen to be repre-
sentatives are able to hold the floor. The format can follow
any of those listed above.
Using this format may be of particular use when dealing
with issues where technical expertise is required – how-
ever, it is absolutely critical to ensure that all perspectives
are included on the issue at hand, otherwise those whose
views were not heard may deem the town hall meeting as
self-serving or illegitimate. Additionally, the expectations
of the town hall meeting using a representative format must
be clearly explained in the advertisement of the event as
well as at the beginning of the forum.
Media-focused roundtable
Should the bagh be interested in ensuring that local jour-
nalists adequately understand a government policy or pro-
