The University’s Center for Survey Research is partnering with Voice Of the People, a non-partisan organization advocating for the “founding principles” of democracy by offering a robust survey of public opinion.
VOP will introduce its “Citizen Cabinet on Grounds” initiative this semester, which will randomly select individuals from a set group to voice their thoughts and concerns to Congress.
“U.Va. will be instrumental in recruiting the samples for Maryland, [Virginia], and the national samples that we use,” VOP Executive Director Richard Parsons said. “The team will analyze results from these samples and submit them to Congress.”
Parsons said VOP was glad to partner with the University because of the school’s reputation in public opinion research.
“The Founders believed that government works best when it is guided by the good sense of the people,” CSR Director Thomas Guterbock said. “Our university — established by Thomas Jefferson — shares in that ideal."
Parsons said the Citizen Cabinet initiative aims to provide Congress with more detailed insight into public opinion and highlight counter-arguments to prominent interest groups.
Every three to four weeks, Citizen Cabinet members will participate in “policymaking simulations” online. Participants will be briefed on issues through background information and arguments from both parties regarding different policy options. The simulations then prompt participants to place themselves in the shoes of Congressmen by making public policy decisions.
“The findings will be broken down by district and state, so each member of Congress can see exactly how their constituents came out on the issue,” VOP spokesperson Rich Robinson said in an email. “[The simulations will focus on] all the issues that are currently handcuffing Congress, like Social Security, military spending and budget spending in general.”
The results from the simulations will be sent to Congress and media organizations in addition to being posted online.
Parsons said he believes Congress will be responsive to the data received by this initiative.
“The change won’t be overnight, but this is a new powerful mechanism to get the public’s voice back in the process,” he said. “We have had 65 meetings on the Hill and what we found is that they are looking forward to this kind of input. They are ready for this kind of more informed feedback from the public and they think it will help compromise, which is what democracy is supposed to be all about.”
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