This book examines public involvement in the drafting of Law No. 8 of 2012 on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD), with particular attention to debates surrounding the electoral system.
Public participation is not viewed merely as a formal process emphasizing attendance, consultation, or the submission of recommendations. Rather, this study explores the extent to which public input was genuinely considered by the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Government in shaping electoral system policy. It asks whether the resulting policy was primarily a reflection of political party interests—where public ideas and recommendations served only to legitimize predetermined decisions or were entirely disregarded—or whether public participation had a meaningful impact on the final outcome.
Examining openness and public participation is particularly important given the significant potential for conflicts of interest among lawmakers. On the one hand, legislators are members of political parties with vested interests in electoral outcomes; on the other hand, they are entrusted with the responsibility of drafting laws in the public interest. This dual role creates a tension that makes transparency and public participation essential elements of the legislative process.
For this reason, the discussion of openness and public participation in the formulation of the electoral system provides valuable insight into the broader quality of democratic lawmaking and the extent to which citizens are meaningfully involved in public policymaking.
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Veri Junaidi, Khoirunissa Agustyati, and Ibnu Setyo Hastomo
