Quality of Governance: Publicly Responsive Elected Officials

California Forward is developing indicators to help the public assess whether the executive and legislative branches of state government are responsive to public priorities.

Indicators are intended to help the public address the following concerns:

  • Is California's state government responding to the public's highest priorities?
  • Are elected leaders making progress in addressing those concerns?
  • Do the issues championed by individual lawmakers and the political parties reflect the highest priorities of their constituencies?
  • Are lawmakers equally responsive to the needs and concerns of all constituents?
  • Do votes on specific bills and the overall voting patterns of individual lawmakers reflect the perspectives of their districts, the influence of their political party or special interests and campaign contributions?
  • Are there strategies in place to improve the responsiveness of government to public needs?
Indicators rely on some source of data or information that is used to inform decision-makers.  For instance, with more traditional indicators, such as crime rates, researchers rely on crimes reported to law enforcement agencies to establish crime rates. 

Governance indicators also will require a consistent source of data.  For example, polling on the public priorities might reveal the issues the public most cares about.  Analysis of legislative proposals put forth by policymakers might reveal whether policymakers are focusing on the issues of greatest public concern.

Some organizations also track voting patterns and suggest that voting that follows strict partisan lines may not be reflective of responsiveness to district concerns – because districts are not strictly partisan – but may be more reflective of party concerns.

As we develop these indicators, we would like to hear from you.  What information do you believe would most accurately and fairly reflect whether policy-makers are responsive to the needs of their constituents and all the residents of California?  We would welcome the opportunity to keep you informed of our progress and to solicit your input on this effort.

Please tell us what you think on our JOIN US page or send us an email at info@caforward.org.