town meeting
Local public forum
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic government used primarily in New England, where residents of a town gather to vote on local legislation, budgets, and policies.
Unlike representative democracy, eligible voters participate directly in decision-making rather than electing officials to decide for them.
Town meetings typically occur annually, though special sessions may be called for urgent matters.
The term also applies more loosely to any public forum where officials address community concerns.
Elected municipal board members
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- chairpersonOne who leads meetings
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- bylawsOrganization's internal regulations
charter · warrant · zoning · budget · appropriation · taxation · municipality · ward
Those who cast ballots
- residentsPeople living somewhere
- citizensMembers of a nation
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
- attendanceRecord of who's present
constituents · neighbors · taxpayers · electorate · show of hands · voice vote · floor · speaker
Voters decide policy personally
- New EnglandNortheast U.S. region
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
tradition · autonomy · representation · accountability · transparency · mandate · referendum · initiative
selectmen
Elected municipal board members
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- chairpersonOne who leads meetings
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
bylaws · charter · warrant · zoning · budget · appropriation · taxation · municipality · ward · alderman
voters
Those who cast ballots
attendance · constituents · neighbors · taxpayers · electorate · show of hands · voice vote · floor · speaker · testimony
direct democracy
Voters decide policy personally
- New EnglandNortheast U.S. region
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
civic duty · tradition · autonomy · representation · accountability · transparency · mandate · referendum · initiative · recall
motion
Change in position
debate · discussion · vote · ballot · tabled · seconded · point of order · recess · adjourn · parliamentary
- assembliesdelegates, gathering, Roman Senate, sessions, general assembly
- town governmentselectmen, alderman, aldermen, assessor, constable
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- civic eventspublic hearing, election, public forum, budget hearing, voter registration
- civic lifevoting, civic engagement, civic responsibility, civic education, civic leader
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
town meetingprivate session
Meeting excluding outsiders
closed session · executive session · star chamber · backroom deal · closed hearing
town meetingautocratic rule
Governance by unchecked authority
one-man rule · authoritarian rule · dictatorship · executive order · fiat
town meetingsecret meeting
Covert assembly of parties
backroom deal · smoke-filled room · star chamber · shadow council
town, meeting, downtown, meets, uptown, towns, meetings, township, town's