Tu lugar en el Congreso (The 501st Seat. Your place in Congress)

It is a way to get in touch with the Members of Congress. It makes easier to know and understand the Legislative Power performance. Alliance between Fundar, Center of Analysis and Research, and Citivox. +

Knowledge about Congress + Technology implementation Accessible Information Fundar + Citivox = Creates a common ground for citizens and institutions by providing a service platform that enables collaborative problem solving. Monitors public policies public institutions through applied research, critical reflection, experimentation and linkage with civil, social, and governmental actors.

A few insights Democracy is “the people’s government”, therefore, social participation must be one of its most important features. Historically and theoretically, participation can be direct (assemblies) and indirect (representation). However, sometimes the representation principle is misguided and does not work as it should  Accountability. Moreover, nowadays a delegative / representative democracy is not considered fully or really democratic. We can decide not to participate in public decisions but, since we build a democratic society, it should provide the conditions to make that decision. Access to information is the key to participate in the public decision making process.

A few (more) insights IT and Social Media facilitates and enhances citizens participation on public interest issues. We can communicate with each other quicker and almost for free, despite our age, location, education level, among other considerations. A virtual community that does not depend on location or time is created when a certain number of persons gather because of their concern on a particular issue. IT and Social media have the potential to expand the circle of decision making, reducing the gap between policy makers or representatives and their constituencies (although the relationship does not become fully horizontal). Efficient communication leads to a better relationship between citizens and decision makers, increases civic engagement and promotes transparency and accountability.

To occupy our place in Congress, we must understand what it does and how. In Curul 501 we display the Congress information – bills, representatives profiles and explanations of the legislative processes – in a simple and creative way. Social Orientation More often than not, we ignore and disregard the work of Congress. Mainly because we consider it inaccessible and difficult to understand.

Accessible information + Tool for advocacy Social Participation Social participation Human Rights Budget analysis Transparency Public security Public health Migration Legislative processes Government publicity

Social participation + accountability Effective representation Congresswoman Dina Herrera Direct representation

Last month’s analytics

International alliances Our voice within the Congress. Reflexión democrática (Perú) Directorio Legislativo (Argentina) Your eyes in the Congress. Currently, we are open to collaborate with other mexican OSC in order to replicate Curul 501 in the local assemblies.

As many other PMO’s, Fundar has faced the lack of parliamentary information. The Chamber of Deputies, however, has more information available than the Senate. We also have to deal with the almost natural resistance from the congressmen and women to work with PMO’s. As well as other PMO, we have to make an effort to transform our monitoring agenda into real parliamentary changes. In this new phase we have not been as successful as we expected to engage both the MP’s and the public. Short term challenges

Now we are in a moment of transition: our new approach to the Parliament is more ambitious because we are seeking to monitor it entirely as a democratic institution and enhance citizens’ participation in general so they can hold their representatives accountable. We would also like to contribute to the improvement of the inner parliamentary mechanisms of governance, transparency and accountability. We are looking for changes in the parliamentary institutional devices, namely its transparency and accountability procedures. Short term challenges

Further activities Massive Social involvement. Search for your representative. Get to know who she/he is. Multiple CSO advocacy initiatives. Dynamic response from the representatives. Other international and subnational alliances.

apps.facebook.com/micurul