Overview[]
The eRulemaking Program eliminated redundancy and duplication and standardized the rulemaking process for federal agencies. It also enhances access and participation in the regulatory process and improves Partner Agency regulatory processes and transparency of regulatory decisions. Participation in this program allows agencies to fulfill the E-Government Act of 2002 requirement to ensure a publicly accessible website containing electronic dockets for regulations. The eRulemaking Program also supports Executive Order 13563, Executive Order 13609, the Open Government Partnership: National Action Plan, and the Presidential Memorandum-Managing Government Records.
The Strategic Goals are:
- Expand public understanding of the rulemaking process;
- Improve the quality of rulemaking decisions and improve the efficiency of the rulemaking process; and
- Increase the amount, breadth, and ease of citizen access and participation.
Strategic goals and objectives are met through the Program's two important system components:
- Regulations.gov provides citizens, small businesses, educators, corporations, civic organizations, and all levels of government one-stop internet access to view, download, and submit comments on all Federal regulations currently under review. Agencies are required to accept electronic submissions via the website and ensure public regulatory dockets are electronically accessible and searchable using Regulations.gov. With the Regulations.gov Exchange, users post suggestions and feedback on agency initiatives, further enhancing participation.
- Federal Docket Management System (FDMS): the advanced "back-end" docket management system provides Federal users with continually improving internal docket management functionalities, electronic recordkeeping, and the ability to post documents on Regulations.gov (e.g., Federal Register documents, proposed rules, notices, supporting analyses, and public comments).
Source[]
- Executive Office of the President, "Report to Congress on the Benefits of the President's E-government Initiatives fiscal Year 2013," at 19-20 (May 2013) (full-text).