E-government
E-government, or electronic government, refers to the use of the Internet and information technology to facilitate interactions between governments and their citizens. Its primary aims include providing services like information dissemination, managing government functions efficiently, fostering electronic communication, and offering online payment systems for public services. As technology has become integral to modern life, many governments have adopted e-government strategies to enhance transparency, streamline tasks, and improve service delivery.
The transition from traditional paper-based systems to e-government has been recognized for its potential to empower citizens and increase engagement in the political process. Benefits of e-government include quicker access to government services—such as online vehicle registration—and the environmental advantages of maintaining digital records. However, challenges persist, particularly concerning privacy concerns and the digital divide that may leave low-income and elderly populations without adequate access to these services.
In the United States, the E-Government Act of 2002 marked a significant step toward online government services, establishing roles to improve digital management and security. The United Nations also plays a role in assessing e-government readiness among nations, highlighting the need for comprehensive systems that connect various levels of government. Overall, while e-government offers promising advancements, its implementation continues to evolve, requiring careful consideration of accessibility and security issues.
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Subject Terms
E-government
An abbreviation of electronic government, e-government is the interaction between governments and their citizens via the Internet and other forms of information technology. This interaction is intended to replace unneeded or time-consuming bureaucratic tasks. Its four primary purposes are to offer services such as the dissemination of general information; consolidate and manage the flow of government functions; promote electronic communication with citizens through instant messaging, social media, and other interactive software platforms; and provide an online marketplace through which citizens can pay taxes, vehicle registration fees, and any fees associated with community-related activities.
Overview
As modern society increasingly came to use information technology for communication and commerce, governments around the world implemented e-government strategies to streamline tasks, create transparency, and accelerate services. The conversion from paper-based government to e-government has distinct advantages, though the process has not always been smooth and has had its critics.
The most basic advantage of e-government is its paradigm-shifting potential, conceivably allowing for citizen-based control of government functions. E-government permits relatively easy and quick access to government personnel, which may encourage people to become more involved in political processes, and creates a space in which elected officials can be held accountable. E-government also presents time-saving opportunities; registering a car online takes much less time than doing so in person at a state-run agency, for example. Also, maintaining digital, as opposed to physical, records is environmentally friendly and less cumbersome.
However, e-government also has certain disadvantages. At their simplest, these disadvantages are unavoidable consequences of the digital transition; still, e-government raises issues such as infringement on personal privacy and the inaccessibility of the Internet and other technologies to low-income and elderly citizens.
In the twenty-first century, the United States has acknowledged the necessity of e-government. The E-Government Act of 2002 was the first step in promoting the conversion to Internet-based government services. It established the role of chief information officer, part of the Office of Management and Budget, to improve and manage the digitization of government services. One of its provisions was the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), outlining the requirements for the implementation of information security across federal agencies.
Following the election of Barack Obama as US president in 2008, the American government further attempted to harness the vast potential of e-government. The Office of E-Government and Information Technology was tasked with developing and directing protocols for the implementation of Internet technologies. President Obama used the Internet to his great advantage in securing the presidency and was forthright about the importance of e-government, with its potential for government-citizen communication and budget reduction.
The United Nations General Assembly releases an annual e-government survey in which it assesses the e-government status of its member nations. Its primary conclusion has been that national governments must transition from simply service- and commerce-based e-government to an integrative system that links each level and function of government. In 2012, the UN listed the US government fifth in its ranking of the e-government readiness of nations; the Republic of Korea ranked first.
Bibliography
Bélanger, France, and Lemuria Carter. “Digitizing Government Interactions with Constituents: An Historical Review of E-Government Research in Information Systems.” Journal of the Association for Information Systems 13.5 (2012): 363–94. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.
Bertot, John Carlo, et al. “Delivering E-Government Services and Transforming Communities through Innovative Partnerships: Public Libraries, Government Agencies, and Community Organizations.” Information Polity 18.2 (2013): 127–38. Print.
Gajendra, Sharma, Bao Xi, and Qiang Wang. “E-Government: Public Participation and Ethical Issues.” Journal of E-Governance 35.4 (2012): 195–204. Print.
“The Good, the Bad, and the Inevitable: The Pros and Cons of E-Government.” Economist. Economist Newspaper, 14 Feb. 2008. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.
Reddick, Christopher G. Comparative E-Government. New York: Springer, 2010. Print.
Schnoll, Hans J. E-government: Information, Technology, and Transformation. New York: Routledge, 2015. Print.
United Nations. United Nations E-Government Survey 2012: E-Government for the People. New York: UN, 2012. PDF file.