START: a framework for facilitating e-rulemaking

Federal agencies implement laws passed by Congress by making rules and regulations that can be applied in practice. Stakeholders and members of the public usually want to know how proposed rules will affect them, so they can effectively respond to the proposals, during the comment period. While the stakeholders, like business and advocacy groups, can employ information specialists to get their answers, individuals will have to turn to the rulemaking agencies for such information. Consequently, for online rulemaking to encourage and support public participation, there will be need for information access that is simple and intuitive to use, comprehensive in the material covered, specific to the user's needs and timely.