Continuianamo disquisition on the methods of participatory democracy, speaking today of the Town Meeting, a particular form of Local Government, practiced ease and regularity, in the northeast U.S., in the region called New England (Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts), the first area colonized by the British in the USA. Town Meeting I have a story that has more than 300 years, currently being implemented in smaller towns of 6000 inhabitants, but this does not preclude the larger cities, at any time, to switch to a representative form of Town Meeting. These town meetings are held usually once a year, traditionally the first Tuesday in March, basically, start to finish in the morning and early afternoon. Each city regulates these Assemblies participate on their own discretion, therefore, in proceedings of Town Meeting, have evolved many different forms. The most common form of Town Meeting, open to the participation and the vote of citizens, the Open Town Meeting, which seems to be active in at least 1000 cities, in this formula are parties may participate in all citizens entitled to vote, decisions binding for administrators. We discuss all the issues that concern the administration of the city, starting from the purchase of suppelletili, the entire city budget, deciding assign as education, roads, health. A Town Meeting is preceded by a notice exhibited in public places, at least 1 month before and that shows the location and time of 'meeting with all the listed topics to be discussed. The turnout varies widely, depending on the size of the city, the average is 20.5% (participation in local votes in the rest of the U.S., when performed alone, unaccompanied or state presidential voting, sometimes coming at rates well below 10%), but the smaller ones you get at 80% equity. You choose at the beginning of 'the moderator of the meeting' meetings, but generally, though not a rule, is that of the previous year '. During the Town Meeting are also elected selectmen, or administrators who will implement the decisions taken during the day. The Shareholders 'Meeting takes place in an orderly manner, following established rules and codes of conduct agreed with, the citizens' will follow that last an average of one minute, although there is no time limit, the length is adjusted simply by habit and from the habit of being concise. The moderator reads the items to 'agenda and, consequent, the proposals recommended by the directors in office. Then seek the opinion of those present, if no one raises his hand, the point is considered approved. Who intervenes, usually, it does ask for clarification or to propose an amendment in this case who does the amendment must be supported by the support of other citizens (the number varies from city to city). If the amendment is submitted, the moderator is to start a discussion in which everyone can participate. The vote takes place, often through the voice, the moderator asked who 's agreement to say yes, that' s agreement to say no. With the outcome clearly and without doubt, we proceed with the next point, otherwise you vote by raising hands, without a proper count. If the situation is still not clear, it goes on the ballot, by secret ballot on a piece of paper written and delivered in a box on the board of the moderator, who, after making the statement. The town meeting was a remarkable story, this has allowed the development of procedures that have made them fast and productive. continues
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