Who should have the final say in controversial decisions: citizens or public officials?
Full Question Text
One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum from low engagement to high engagement. At the low end, citizen engagement would focus just on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the high end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the issue, in general, what do you personally believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?
| % within Jurisdiction Type | ||||||
| Jurisdiction Type | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Township | City | Village | |||
| One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum from low engagement to high engagement. At the low end, citizen engagement would focus just on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the high end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the issue, in general, what do you personally believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance? | Low Engagement: just keep citizens informed | 8% | 4% | 3% | 6% | 4% |
| Have citizens provide input | 69% | 64% | 65% | 60% | 64% | |
| Have citizens recommend decisions | 18% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 25% | |
| High engagement: Have citizens make decisions | 2% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | |
| Don't Know | 4% | 4% | 1% | 3% | 3% | |
| % within Population Size | |||||||
| Population Category | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1500 | 1500-5000 | 5001-10000 | 10001-30000 | >30000 | |||
| One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum from low engagement to high engagement. At the low end, citizen engagement would focus just on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the high end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the issue, in general, what do you personally believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance? | Low Engagement: just keep citizens informed | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Have citizens provide input | 58% | 67% | 69% | 66% | 69% | 64% | |
| Have citizens recommend decisions | 30% | 23% | 18% | 25% | 22% | 25% | |
| High engagement: Have citizens make decisions | 4% | 1% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% | |
| Don't Know | 4% | 4% | 5% | 0% | 1% | 3% | |
| % within Region of Michigan | ||||||||
| Region of Michigan | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Peninsula | Northern Lower Peninsula | West Central Lower Peninsula | East Central Lower Peninsula | Southwest Lower Peninsula | Southeast Lower Peninsula | |||
| One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum from low engagement to high engagement. At the low end, citizen engagement would focus just on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the high end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the issue, in general, what do you personally believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance? | Low Engagement: just keep citizens informed | 3% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Have citizens provide input | 60% | 59% | 65% | 63% | 66% | 69% | 64% | |
| Have citizens recommend decisions | 30% | 32% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 20% | 25% | |
| High engagement: Have citizens make decisions | 1% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Don't Know | 6% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | |