eThePeople.org, an online forum for democratic and deliberative discussion
With the assumption that the Internet would have a profound impact on political conversation, the initiative was launched in 1999 by Michael Weiksner and Scott Reents.
The platform is built in a way that allows members and participants to have maximum control over the topics and frames for discussion. It aims to be a citizen-driven town hall.
Some of the features offered by eThePeople include ‘Letters’ to elected officials, ‘Conversations’ that allow people to submit articles, ‘Polls’, and ‘Petitions’ that are then passed on to the exact web address; each petition can also receive signatures from other people.