ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Citizen Participation in the Law -Making Processes of Local Governments: A Study of Selected Local Levels of Karnali Province

Citizens in the majority of West European nations have increased their influence on policymaking in recent decades. According to Cain et al. (2006), numerous nations have acquired expertise in participatory budgeting, citizens' advisory committees, and collaborative governance. From a democratic standpoint, citizen participation is seen as an important component of democratic decision-making and democratic citizenship. More specifically, deliberative and participatory democrats contend that citizen participation improves democracy(Michels & Graaf, n.d.). Questions are also being raised about representative democracy. Numerous actors interacting in complex decision-making processes and the waning role of political parties in representation (e.g., declining voter turnout and rising electoral volatility) have sparked debate about the legitimacy of democracy and prompted calls for more ways for citizens to participate (Cain et al., 2006). Theoretically, participatory and deliberative democrats argue over the role of citizen engagement in democracies. We outline the key justifications for citizens' direct political engagement as proposed by theory, though they are by no means comprehensive. According to participatory democratic theory, citizens become disenfranchised from politics when decision-making authority is delegated. They believe that citizen participation is essential to democracy.