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Public Information and Regulatory Processes: What the Public Knows and Regulators Decide
Author(s) -
Crow Deserai A.,
Albright Elizabeth A.,
Koebele Elizabeth
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/ropr.12154
Subject(s) - rulemaking , transparency (behavior) , bureaucracy , accountability , legislature , legitimacy , regulatory state , public administration , state (computer science) , political science , regulatory authority , process (computing) , corporate governance , democracy , public relations , business , law , politics , computer science , algorithm , finance , operating system
Because bureaucratic agencies may be less transparent in their decision processes than legislatures, most states have developed processes to incorporate input from regulated communities and other parties potentially affected by regulations. Administrative agencies may encourage democratic practices to increase legitimacy and accountability of the bureaucracy and improve decision‐making processes. However, rules governing the regulatory process vary by state, with some incorporating more open practices than others. Understanding these dynamics is increasingly important, as the rulemaking process has become central to policymaking over the past several decades, with a large portion of policymaking authority delegated to administrative agencies. Drawing from regulatory documents, rulemaking comments, media coverage, and interviews with regulators in 14 regulatory decision processes across five states, this study finds that while states vary in their approach to providing access to information, there are overriding patterns that reduce the role of citizens and the overall transparency of regulatory processes.