Internet technologies can facilitate a more direct interaction between citizens and government through the development of a digital democracy or electronic commons. The Internet and the World Wide Web make this a viable next step in our democracy. Casting one's vote on the Internet, attending Congressional hearings or City Council meetings via the Web, instant generation of public opinion polls, interactive candidate debates, and easy public access to government data are but a few of the potential outcomes. However, important questions about the effect of digital democracy abound: To what extent, and with what consequences, will this capacity enable greater involvement of citizens in their own governance? Will more or different kinds of citizen participation change the nature and role of political leadership and democratic institutions? Will instant expressions of personal and public opinion improve or degrade the quality of public discourse and formal policy deliberations?

• What knowledge and technologies must citizens possess in order to participate in electronic governance?
• Does the existence of electronic means of communication improve citizen participation in democratic processes?
• What is the potential for intelligent agents and customized interfaces to change the way citizens participate in government?
• How must the processes of governance change to account for electronic participation?
• How does electronic participation affect citizen trust in government?