This is an eGISE network paper. A significant area within eGovernment is concerned with systems to
support democratic policy formation and decision making processes. In modern government, both
local and national, consultation with interested parties is an important element in maintaining the
democratic process. To date online consultation tools have has used existing software tools, which are
simple text based tools that were not tailored to the process. This project proposes to develop an
online tool that will visualise the issues and arguments graphically as the consultation process
proceeds. Using Discourse Analysis and Ontological Engineering it will create Argument Maps that
will server not only to inform participants but also the archive record of the consultation – the Policy
Memory. We hypothesise that such a tool would allow citizens to be come more engaged with policy
formation and enhance democratic participation
