About Us

The Program for Public Consultation (PPC) is part of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.

PPC was established to develop the methods and theory of public consultation and to conduct public consultations. In particular it will work with government agencies to help them consult their citizens on key public policy issues that the government faces.

The Program for Public Consultation, in conjunction with the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, is committing to developing and refining methods of public consultation and applying those methods, especially in direct collaboration with government agencies.

On a regular basis, PPC develops policymaking simulation surveys on key issues Congress is facing. In a policymaking simulation survey, respondents are briefed on the issue, weighing pro and con arguments on the policy options Congress is considering, and make recommendations on what Congress should do. These policymaking simulation surveys are developed with input from senior congressional staffers from both parties and outside experts, from across the political spectrum, to ensure accuracy and balance. The results are summed up and reported so that each Member of Congress can more clearly hear the views of the people in their own district or state, as well as the nation as a whole. All of the findings, and the details on how the policymaking surveys are conducted, will also be reported to the Executive Branch, the news media and the public in a fully transparent online process.

All research by the Program for Public Consultation is archived by The Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM).


PPC has partnered with Voice Of the People (VOP), a nonpartisan organization that seeks to re-anchor our democracy in its founding principles by giving ‘We the People’ a greater role in government. VOP furthers the use of innovative methods and technology to give the American people a more effective voice in the policymaking process.

VOP works with the Program for Public Consultation to develop policymaking simulations to enable individual citizens to get informed on key issues before government, to hear arguments and offer their recommendations to their Congressional representatives. VOP sponsors policymaking simulation surveys of large national samples of voters and delivers the findings to Congress, the Executive Branch and the media.


Voice of the People has identified more than 170 policy positions on a wide range of issues supported by majorities of Republicans and Democrats. Visit www.vop.org/common-ground to learn more.


Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland
700 Pennsylvania Avenue SE #2083, Washington, DC 20003