CCO sets the agenda for dialogue amongst Finance Ministers. 5.6 Citizen Engagement Traditionally, the opinions of citizens have been sought out once every four to five years through the ballot box. The long stretch of time in between tends to be filled by MPs, who visit their constituencies and listen to the complaints and ideas of their constituents. Global reporting, instant electronic communications, polling, a better educated and more demanding public, well-organized special interest groups, and an increasing need to make tough choices between government program options have raised expectations all round for increased citizen involvement in policy making. Citizens can be engaged in the policy process in a number of ways from focus groups, polls, and town hall meetings, to citizen juries, study circles and Royal Commissions.
Royal commissions have the power to conduct public hearings, call for papers and call witnesses.
Individuals and groups are invited to make submissions to the Commission, which then reports to the executive. They can have a significant impact on government policy. They are normally shorter-lived than Royal Commissions and c an be used to mobilize support from the public. These can be ad hoc or ongoing and are used to establish a focal point for the exchange of views between stakeholders and officials. They may sustain ongoing public education and constitute a source of information for the government.