Many of the problems faced by local government officials are fairly traditional and can be solved with the application of the right amount of staff time, consultant contracts, or just plain cash. Every so often, however, a complex new problem or opportunity arises that cannot be handled within the scope of the regular set of municipal problem-solving processes. In such instances, citizens’ committees can be a great asset to a local government. Effective Citizens' Advisory Councils: A Blueprint for Success is intended to provide the potential user of a citizens’ committee with a blueprint for establishing a committee that can assist in solving community problems. Case studies illustrate three situations in which citizen groups, with adequate guidance and staffing, managed to resolve controversial issues. Samples are provided for bylaws, meeting agendas, and orientation materials.

Federal advisory committees are frequently chartered by the Chief Executive, Congress, and agency heads to render independent advice and to make recommendations. This report sets forth definitions and requirements for creating commissions as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Twelve commissions were created by the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY1999, and are used here to illustrate the various options that are available for creating independent study bodies.