Reference no: EM133523637
You may choose to observe one meeting of the following: City Commissioners, County Commissioners, County School Board, or any Commissioner or School Board meeting of a surrounding community.
(1) Which group did you observe? What is the function of the group? What community does it serve? Does it provide equal services to all groups in the community or are there easily identified elite or power elite groups? What was the gender and racial breakdown of the officials? Is this proportional to the community?
(2) When and where was the meeting held? Was the meeting handicapped accessible? Is the time and location easily accessible to all groups in the community?
(3) Agenda: What was discussed at the meeting? Did these issues affect the health and welfare of the community and if so how? (Please get an official copy at the meeting, have it signed by your representative, and submit with your report)
(4) Which members were present? Absent? Did your representative actively participate in the discussions?
(5) How many members of the general public were present? Which issues seemed to be of interest for the audience? Which issues did people speak on? How many spoke out on each issue? Which "side" of the issue seemed to have the most support? What type of strategies were used by the speakers (stories; data; posters, etc.)? Do you think they were effective? Would you have used the same tactic or would you have used a different one and why?
(6) How were the deliberations of the government officials? Cordial? Combative? Was it democratic or did one or two seem to control the discussion? If one or two seemed to control the discussion, who were they? Why do you think this happened?
(7) What was the outcome of the meeting? In other words, did the officials vote or did they delay the issues for another meeting? If so, why?
(8)What were your general impressions of the process? Did you learn anything from the experience? If yes, what? If no, why? Was the process what you thought it would be?
(9) Now that you have observed policy in the making, do you think