Decision making in public organizations can range from how to carry out day-to-day tasks to questions of value that may shape people's lives for years to come. In these situations it is important to ask for public input to ensure the best decision is made for everyone who will be affected. Citizen participation in government has been practiced in the United States since its conception, the forums for participation have changed but citizen input is still a vital part of decision making in American public administration. Citizen participation, or public contribution, is defined as the participation of civil society (both individual citizens and institutionalized actors) in local decision-making.” This can also be extended beyond the local level to public organizations at the state and federal levels. This process allows decision makers to listen to and consider multiple opinions on issues that will affect the public. According to the Environment and Natural Resources Institute at the University of Alaska Anchorage, “public policy is a blend of our values ​​and opinions, technical knowledge and skills, and our political systems.” It is precisely the mixture of values ​​and opinions that makes citizen participation necessary; the goal of citizen participation is “to create structures to manage complex public issues in systematic, manageable and less emotional ways.” Public input gives everyone a place to work together constructively. There are many different types of citizen participation. A popular type is the forum. In the forum setting there is usually a set time and place where interested parties can meet, there will usually be a presentation addressing the problem and intended solution. After this... half of the document... employee ideas campaign." 3-2-2110.http://govfresh.com/2010/03/sf-selects-brightidea-to-power -employee- ideas-campaign/ (accessed 3-3-2110).Knight, Samuel “Florida County Uses Social Media for Budget Feedback.” http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive /2010/03/. 03/county-in-florida-uses-social-media-for-feedback-on-budget.aspx (accessed 3-3-2010). Koht, Peter “City of Santa Cruz Offers Blueprint for CA Budget Crisis Solution with Social Media." 9-8-2009.http://www.gov2expo.com/gov2expo2009/public/schedule/detail/10344 (accessed 3-3-2010).Re Source Solutions, "Public Decision Making: The Role changing government." http://edit.uaa.alaska.edu/resourcesolutions/upload/Gov%20Changing%20Role.pdf (accessed 3-3-2010). "Santa Cruz City Budget." http:/ /budget .santacruzcityca.gov/"Your County, Your Call." http://www.yourcountryyourcall.com/ (accessible 3-4-2010).