Institutionalized Policy Evaluation within the Democratic System: Why? When? How?

ABSTRACT Philosophers have expressed concerns about elite capture at various stages of the democratic decision‐making process. However, there has been no sustained normative analysis of government‐driven feedback platforms that enable different actors to formulate recommendations for revising or canceling existing laws and policies. My article addresses and fills this gap. I contend that government‐driven feedback platforms serve a dual purpose of influencing the policy‐making process and demonstrating that decisions are open to revision. I also argue that these feedback platforms are intended to generate a normatively salient, forward‐looking, and balanced integration of technical knowledge and local knowledge, establishing the epistemic foundation for future deliberation. I then provide three normative standards that serve as a guide to balance expert knowledge with citizens' experience and values.