Since 2002, the city of Grenoble, France, has engaged citizens
in public decision-making through participatory committees and
town meetings. Residents have been able to express their
opinions and make recommendations on city planning, education,
cultural life, and other municipal issues. Over the years, this
program has strengthened local democracy and empowered public
participation in important civic projects. Note: This article is
in need of assistance with editing and content. Please help us
complete it. This case study features Conseils de quarter, or
"neighborhood councils," which are infra-municipal participatory
forums that serve as consultative bodies mandated by law in
French cities with more than 80,000 residents. The Poitou-
Charentes Region is located in the West of France. It has a
population of 1.600.000 inhabitants, which makes it one of the
most rural regions in France. In 2005, the executive of the
Region Poitou-Charentes implemented the first participatory
budgeting at a regional level in Eur