Local Parliament and Citizen Participation in Brazil: Democratic Goods in Curitiba’s Municipal Chamber Hearings

Public hearings allow citizens to share views with authorities. This article examines ninety-three public hearings held at Curitiba’s Municipal Chamber (CMC) from 2020 to 2022, assessing four democratic goods: transparency, considered judgment, inclusion, and popular control. We analyzed video recordings and legislative documents. Transparency and inclusion were most evident. Limitations included poor documentation practices, lecture-style formats, and limited feedback linking participation to decisions. Findings highlight the need to improve CMC’s hearing design and may inform other participatory settings where local parliaments seek stronger citizen engagement and trust in democratic processes.