Instructions:
Attend a ‘public meeting’ of an elected body or a political action/activity. Address the following in your
paper:
Descriptive evaluation: Describe the meeting/activity that you attended. What did you see and hear? Did
you participate? If yes, what did you do or say?
Personal reflection: What was your reaction to the meeting/activity? How did the event apply to you?
Analytical evaluation: Evaluate whether the meeting/activity that you attended exemplified ‘good
governance.’? Why or why not? In other words, did the manner in which the event was conducted
exemplify democratic values? Also consider in your evaluation whether or not your event supported or
subverted American democracy.
There are many definitions of good governance and debate over what it entails. Overall, this concept
telates to how public affairs are conducted. Good governance is characterized by participation,
transparency, accountability, rule of law, effectiveness, and equity.