WSA 07 Awards in Venice (8)

Category: e-Government

Entries in the category e-Government can deal with the functioning of the government, the democracy or the transparency of government. The German entry about the Lower House deals with the functioning of the democracy. Two citizens' sites resp. of Ireland and Denmark help the citizens find their way in government. Remarkable is the project of ATM Express Government from Mexico, using ATM machines to help citizens with a lot of durties such as paying taxes, ordering license plates and get birth certificates. The US entry is very exciting as it creates transparancy in politics, by putting a link between campaign monies and voting behaviour.

Title: ATM EXPRESS GOVERNMENT
Title in Original Language: GOBIERNO EXPRES
Media Format: cross media
Producer: Bureau of Planning and Sustainable Development
Country: Mexico
Description of the Product
It’s the dream of all citizens plagued by unresponsive bureaucracies. The Express Government ATMs are advanced automatic teller machines and offer 59 fully automated services to the common citizen. The 22 modules are distributed over 16 cities in the state of Chiapas and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year allowing one to pay taxes, obtain Birth Certificates, Driver’s Licenses and Vehicle Plates. It is government service within minutes. Thus operating costs were reduced, productivity increased, and public access improved. Finally, it is clean public administration as the ATM Express Government cannot be corrupted.

Title: Money and Politics
Media Format: broadband/online
URL: www.maplight.org
Producer: MAPLight.org
Country: United States of America
Description of the Product
MAPLight.org is a groundbreaking public website. It puts the spotlight on the connection between money and politics in the United States of America. Two public databases are combined: a date base of all known campaign contributions to any legislator, and a database on how legislators voted on specific bills and resolutions. Bringing the data on money and voting together provides unprecedented insight into the legislative processes in the US. The website is a treasure for journalists, NGOs, and bloggers. It helps, citizens to hold legislators accountable. MAPLight.org, findings makes complex research publically available in an instant and shows that public scrutiny can be also visually appealing, easy-to-use, and customizable.

Title: citizensinformation.ie
Media Format: broadband/online
URL: www.citizensinformation.ie
Producer: Citizens Information Board
Country: Ireland
Description of the Product
Only an informed citizen can be an active citizen. citizensinformation.ie covers in an exemplary fashion subjects on Ireland ranging from employment rights, to buying a home, moving abroad, putting kids into school and much more. The information is divided into 14 categories so that users can readily access the topic relevant to them. Straightforward, accurate, and comprehensive the information is sourced from a wide variety of service providers, including Government Departments and agencies. Each category addresses a series of frequently asked questions on the topic and is supported with a wealth of in depth information, case studies, supporting documents and downloadable forms.

Title: citizen.dk
Title in Original Language: borger.dk
Media Format: broadband/online
URL: www.borger.dk
Producer: National IT and Telecom Agency
Country: Denmark
Description of the Product
With the launch of Denmark’s shared public citizen portal, borger.dk, Danes have gotten a single online entrance to the public sector. The portal provides easy access to all public information and digital self-services. It functions as a looking glass, thus gathering and presenting all digital services known in the public sector, and introducing them as a coherent whole to Danish citizens. The portal is the result of the largest digital cross-sector project ever seen in the Danish public administration. Borger.dk includes also media articles, interactive services and transactions concerning 18 overall topics including family and children, disabilities and residence and buildings.

Title: Lower House of German Parliament,
Title in Original Language: Deutscher Bundestag
Media Format: broadband/online
URL: www.bundestag.de
Producer: Babiel GmbH
Country: Germany
Description of the Product
Democracy demands transparency. The principal website of the German Bundestag is a world class show case on how to make it easy for citizens to follow parliamentary proceedings. More than 60.000 HTML-Pages, 80.000 PDF-files, 6.000 hours of video are augmented by interactive features such as online-petition procedures, discussion groups, online reservation for visits. In depth analysis of current topics and sophisticated search functionality add democratic value. About 100 editors keep background information about members, structure and organization, committees, lobby groups, same-day minutes and proceedings up-to-date. A history section offers a virtual tour through the famous Reichstag building. Sub-sites for youth address the future.

Blog Posting Number: 918

Tags: e-government