American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What aspect distinguishes effective citizen participation according to Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation?

1. Amount of funding available

2. Control citizens have over policy decisions

3. Frequency of public meetings

4. Number of people involved

The correct answer is: Control citizens have over policy decisions

The distinguishing aspect of effective citizen participation, as outlined in Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation, is the level of control that citizens have over policy decisions. This framework categorizes different levels of participation from non-participation to degrees of tokenism and finally to levels of genuine citizen power. At the top rungs of the ladder, citizens are not merely consulted or informed; they actually have a significant role in the decision-making process. This means they can influence policies and have a say in the outcomes. The higher the level of control citizens exert over the policy decisions, the more effective the participation is considered to be in terms of empowering communities and facilitating real change. Other options, such as the amount of funding available, frequency of public meetings, and the number of people involved, may influence the ability or opportunity for participation but do not fundamentally define its effectiveness. Effective participation is less about how often meetings occur or how many people show up and more about the substantive influence that citizens have in shaping the policies that affect their lives.