Citizen involvement in the public decision-making process can be facilitated if appropriate forms and functions of involvement are used. The issue cycle, which can help public officials to ensure that citizens have constructive and timely input into the decision-making process, involves awareness of some condition in the community; community discussions, resulting in the definition of the problem; coalescence of special interests, creating divisions and conflict within the community; open debate among competing interests; establishment of a realistic view of the problem; determination of alternative solutions and their effects; a public decision regarding a course of action; and the implementation of actions. Citizen involvement includes four basic functions: provide or obtain information, interaction with the public, assuring the public, and ritualism. Forms of citizen involvement include public meeting, small workshop, presentation, ad hoc committee, advisory board, key contact, survey, staff report, mass media, and daily contact. Techniques to help encourage citizens to become involved and to make the most of their time and knowledge are to work at building a consensus, reduce the risks of involvement, and develop listening skills. Various principles, functions, and forms of public involvement, and techniques which may be used to obtain more meaningful citizen input are examined. (NQA)