Public Engagement and Decision-Making: Moving Minnesota Forward to Dialogue and Deliberation

Abstract

In this article, we address two broad areas that challenge Minnesota as it moves to deepen and improve public engagement practice: the state legal framework for collaborative governance and innovations in design for public engagement processes. First, this article introduces collaborative governance. Next, we examine the legal framework for state and local collaborative governance, with a focus on administrative law. Third, we address principles of system design in public engagement as a form of collaborative governance. 6 We then discuss performance results for public engagement in other U.S. states and communities. We share sample legislation, ordinances, and policies developed by a national working group of leading nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in participatory and democratic governance as examples of how Minnesota might strengthen the legal framework for public engagement and collaborative governance.

Keywords: collaborative governance, administrative law, dialogue, deliberation, public engagement

JEL Classification: J18