B.1(c). Public Education Period

If recommendations are made, a period of public education shall begin on January 1 of the next even-numbered year. The Demi-Congress is responsible for this education phase. They will ensure fair representation of both sides of each recommendation. They will see to ensuring broad-based communication to the public. This communication and education includes online segments and virtual public forums, as well as advertisements in various media.

Whenever a Demi-Congress makes recommendations, there is a referendum the following November. In the interim, there needs to be broad-based public information for the citizens that explains the merits of both voting for and against each recommendation. A pipefitter who works fifteen hours a day, six or seven days per week, probably was not following the day-to-day work of the Demi-Congress. This public education period is important to help the general citizenry “catch up.” In essence, it’s the “TL;DR” of the periodic review process.

This second year of service from the Demi-Congress is devoted to broadening the debate from their deliberations to the public at large. Members who voted in favor of recommendations see to it that their recommendations are presented fairly. At the same time, members who opposed them take the same care to fairly present arguments against adopting those recommendations.