Among the reforms discussed were public financing of political parties and election campaigns, limits on election spending, independent audits of political party accounts, and mandatory public disclosure of private contributions to political parties and election campaigns. It was suggested that parties should begin to look at civil society organizations as participants in their decision-making process. The Liberal Party in the Philippines is now trying to reach out to student and youth groups, trade unions, and women s organizations to involve them in debates about party policies. The party s autonomous youth group has a place on the national executive, and the party holds periodic policy forums involving independent youth, women s, and labor groups. The discussion started with a participant s presentation on the types and means of decision making under a democratic system.
Strategic decisions involve long-term questions of party stance and direction.
They should be made as democratically as possible, building a broad consensus. Tactical decisions are made under great pressure of time, so it is not possible to consult the rank and file. Tactical decisions must be left to the party s executive decision makers, and the democratic character of these decisions depends on the degree to which those decision makers are elected by and made accountable to the members. The ability of a party congress to make decisions in a democratic way depends in part on how much time it has for debate and deliberation. The shorter the congress, the less democratic it will be.