90:
337:
of a town hall meeting tends to occur when the floor is opened up to questions and comments from the audience. Attendees generally present ideas, voice their opinions, ask questions of the public figures, elected officials, or political candidates at the town hall. Sometimes, the town hall meeting is televised or recorded. In recent years, town halls held by political candidates have announced and enforced rules on crowd behavior and the scope of questions that may be asked.
32:
324:
Canadian town halls have been forums for provincial politicians to discuss issues of the day since at least the 20th century. During the 1993 elections, televised town hall meetings were one of a number of initiatives mainstream media adopted to center ordinary citizens at the heart of their campaign
230:
Richard Nixon's 1968 U.S. Presidential campaign staged nine live televised question and answer sessions using a ground-breaking theatre-in-the-round format broadcast with a live studio television audience and local residents directly asking questions of the candidate. The producer of Nixon's "Man in
336:
There have been no specific rules or guidelines for holding a town hall meeting. The format of the meetings can vary. Usually, the person holding the meeting (e.g. member of
Congress) makes some opening remarks. Sometimes others (e.g. local leaders) will address the audience, as well. The main part
258:
Interest in town halls fluctuates depending on the level of public interest in the topics being discussed. Controversial or confusing issues that are prominently discussed in the news have led to more town halls being held. Since the 2000s, town halls held by political candidates have announced and
340:
If the turnout is large, and if the objective of the particular town hall meeting is to give as many people as possible an opportunity to speak, then the attendees can be broken down into smaller discussion groups. Each smaller group, in that case, appoints someone to summarize discussion of their
222:
in some respects resembled a modern town hall meeting, although the candidates did not take questions from the audience. Not until the twentieth century did presidential candidates commonly campaign in person. Gradually, especially from the 1990s onward, presidential town hall meetings have become
299:
began attending town halls to express their disagreement with abolishing the legislation. In districts where elected representatives have not scheduled town halls, some constituents have publicly petitioned for meetings. Creative requests for town hall meetings include humorous flyer and sticker
127:
Despite their name, town hall meetings do not necessarily take place in a town hall. They are commonly held in a range of venues, including schools, libraries, municipal buildings, and churches. A number of officials have also experimented with digital formats for town halls. Town hall meetings
353:
Despite the name town hall, meetings need not take place in a town hall. They commonly take place in a range of venues, including: schools, libraries, municipal buildings, churches, etc. Generally they are held in a public space and there is no charge to attend. In a given district, town hall
186:
of the United States and to the 19th century in
Australia. The introduction of television and other new media technologies in the 20th century led to a fresh flourishing of town hall meetings in the United States as well as experimentation with different formats in the United States and other
199:
that originated in the 17th century. However, participants in town hall meetings do not actually vote or make legally binding decisions as town meeting voters do. In March 1795 Wilmington, Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New-York, and other towns had public meetings related to the
115:
to meet with their constituents either to hear from them on topics of interest or to discuss specific upcoming legislation or regulation. During periods of active political debate, town halls can be a locus for protest and more active debate. The term originates mainly from
291:
Town hall meetings by teleconference or online grew in popularity. Obama held some as sitting
President, starting in 2011. Federal agencies have held town halls on Twitter since at least 2013. Some politicians have held AMAs on Reddit, which have similar formats.
131:
Historically, no specific rules or guidelines have defined a town hall meeting. Any event that allows constituent participation with a politician may be called a town hall, including gatherings in person, group phone calls, or events on
Internet platforms such as
344:
Some have explored alternative formats for town hall meetings, such as an "electronic town hall." The
Congress Foundation commissioned a report on online town hall meetings, which found they grew in size and importance starting in the mid-2000s.
239:
when that channel launched. Ailes' use of a direct voter-to-candidate question-and-answer format served as the blueprint for subsequent and now ubiquitous town hall candidate formats and even multiple-candidate debates.
1282:
128:
organized by national politicians are often held in a variety of locations distributed across a voting district so that elected representatives can receive feedback from a larger proportion of constituents.
284:
began attending town halls to express their disagreement with the legislation. The large and vocal crowds led some representatives to cancel or scale back their town hall events. Representative
325:
coverage. These efforts, which also included panels of voters to offer comment in print and on radio shows, have been collectively praised as an "international best practice."
171:, town halls are a common way for national politicians to connect or reconnect with their constituents during recesses, when they are in their home districts away from
1289:
734:
1349:
362:
The term "town hall meeting" is also used to describe informal corporate gatherings held to share information such as business results or personnel changes.
1322:
386:
271:
1222:
579:
Green, Nathaniel C. “‘The Focus of the Wills of
Converging Millions’: Public Opposition to the Jay Treaty and the Origins of the People’s Presidency.”
288:
canceled his live town hall meetings after receiving death threats, choosing to hold a telephone conference call with his constituents instead.
42:
989:
1039:
1013:
941:
703:
296:
281:
354:
meetings that are organized by the district's congressional representative are often held in a variety of places across the district.
1275:
1065:
786:
1090:
513:
89:
1131:
769:
523:
489:
445:
183:
313:
853:
16:
This article is about an event where politicians talk with constituents. For the form of municipal decision-making, see
333:
The purpose of town hall meetings is for local and regional officials to hear the community's views on public issues.
1370:
76:
1235:
688:
262:
According to a 2024 study, members of the US Congress held over 25,000 town halls over the period 2015–2022.
916:
891:
616:
410:
211:
207:
Some political organizations track publicized town hall events by politicians across the United States.
94:
1385:
1380:
1332:
300:
campaigns as well as songs. Some constituents have held mock town halls, using a cardboard cutout or
877:
1327:
58:
966:
674:
224:
566:
The legislative powers of the commonwealth and the states of
Australia, with proposed amendments
1174:
711:
248:
54:
655:
475:
864:
243:
Another step in the development of the modern town hall meeting came on March 16, 1977, when
1344:
301:
50:
8:
564:
145:
819:
1339:
1205:
1137:
381:
277:
219:
1375:
1209:
1141:
1127:
835:
794:
765:
519:
485:
441:
121:
1267:
1197:
1119:
827:
539:
172:
153:
141:
1155:
Ward, Ian (1995). "Bringing the voters back in: A Canadian model for
Australia?".
1114:
Forest, Pierre-Gerlier; Marchildon, Gregory P.; Mclntosh, Tom, eds. (2004-01-01).
251:, that was "modeled after" a real town meeting but did not include binding votes.
1390:
759:
435:
215:
259:
enforced rules on crowd behavior and the scope of questions that may be asked.
1045:
670:
1364:
1298:
839:
798:
376:
168:
149:
117:
1014:"'Missing' Stickers Placed on Milk Cartons After Lawmaker Dodges Town Halls"
1312:
391:
371:
252:
244:
196:
23:
Reception where local and national politicians meet with their constituents
17:
1262:
1123:
597:
990:"Voters Shame Cowardly Reps with Town Halls Hosted by Cardboard Cut-Outs"
942:"Protesters will hold town hall meeting for Gardner, but he'll be absent"
304:, to stand in for elected representatives who decline to meet with them.
285:
232:
157:
584:
1201:
201:
112:
1256:
831:
120:, and is unfamiliar in British English where politicians instead hold
689:"Roger Ailes, Nixon's Television Man » Richard Nixon Foundation"
1223:
Online Town Hall
Meetings – Exploring Democracy in the 21st Century
481:
236:
133:
137:
140:. Attendees use town halls to voice their opinions and question
1250:
787:"Angry Town Hall Meetings on Health Care Law, and Few Answers"
437:
Real
Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works
255:
made town hall meetings a part of his presidential campaign.
41:
deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a
1188:
Etzioni, Amitai (1972). "Minerva: An electronic town hall".
1116:
Changing Health Care in Canada: The Romanow Papers, Volume 2
161:
758:
Hart, Roderick P.; Sparrow, Bartholomew H. (2001-01-01).
411:"Halfway through: ROP's Reflections on Town Hall Madness"
204:
which was leaked to the early press by sitting senators.
195:
Town hall meetings are meant to resemble the New England
1113:
1066:"Constituents host 'Texas Town Hall without Ted Cruz'"
761:
Politics, Discourse, and American Society: New Agendas
477:
Presidential Campaigns, Slogans, Issues, and Platforms
187:
countries, both of which continue to the present day.
640:
Maggs, John (2004). "The Format That Saved Clinton".
295:
In 2017, constituents opposed to repeal of that same
1323:
List of significant United States town hall meetings
1297:
677:
from the original on 2021-12-13 – via YouTube.
668:
387:
List of significant United States town hall meetings
272:
List of significant United States town hall meetings
474:Roberts, Robert North; Hammond, Scott John (2012).
1041:Dear Brian Mast – from the People of Martin County
1037:
518:. Atlantic Publishing Company. pp. 150–151.
1362:
312:Australian town hall meetings have been held by
817:
1253:– crowdsourced collection of US town hall data
562:
473:
1283:
818:Clarke, Andrew J.; Markovits, Daniel (2024).
316:politicians since at least the 19th century.
182:Town hall meetings can be traced back to the
39:The examples and perspective in this article
1091:"Cory Gardner's Cory Gardner-less town hall"
967:"Rally seeks town hall meeting with Collins"
917:"Twitter Chat Guidance for Federal Agencies"
507:
505:
503:
501:
757:
1290:
1276:
701:
511:
247:attended a televised town hall meeting in
498:
357:
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
569:. Melbourne, Vic. : C. F. Maxwell;
88:
1187:
515:How to Run for Political Office and Win
231:the Arena" live town-hall programs was
1363:
784:
469:
467:
465:
463:
429:
427:
413:. Rural Organizing Project. 2009-08-27
1271:
984:
982:
702:Brancaccio, David (October 7, 1996).
639:
617:"The History of the Town Hall Debate"
563:Quick, John; Australia (1919-01-01).
433:
164:on issues during town hall meetings.
148:, and public figures. In contrast to
1154:
892:"Twitter Town Hall Tips from the VA"
669:NixonWhiteHouseTapes (9 July 2011).
558:
556:
25:
735:"The Making of a Presidential Trip"
460:
424:
111:, are a way for local and national
13:
979:
614:
14:
1402:
1244:
1236:It's Time for A Town Hall Meeting
1088:
1038:Indivisible Martin (2017-02-18),
964:
732:
553:
532:
156:rule that originated in colonial
1175:"New England Town Hall Meetings"
1157:Australian Studies of Journalism
583:, vol. 37, no. 3, 2017, p. 459.
235:, who would later become CEO of
190:
30:
1228:
1216:
1181:
1167:
1148:
1118:. University of Toronto Press.
1107:
1082:
1058:
1031:
1006:
958:
934:
909:
884:
854:"The Tea Party at the Election"
846:
811:
778:
751:
726:
695:
681:
662:
648:
633:
440:. University of Chicago Press.
280:groups opposed to the proposed
265:
608:
598:"LegiStorm: Congress Revealed"
590:
573:
403:
282:health care reform legislation
1:
824:Legislative Studies Quarterly
785:Kaplan, Thomas (2017-02-13).
581:Journal of the Early Republic
397:
1263:Legistorm list of town halls
764:. Rowman & Littlefield.
704:"Marketplace: News Archives"
512:Williamson, Melanie (2010).
307:
7:
1257:Maps of upcoming town halls
365:
53:, discuss the issue on the
10:
1407:
1259:from the Town Hall Project
820:"Congressional town halls"
269:
177:
95:West Hartford, Connecticut
15:
1333:Representation (politics)
1308:
671:"Man in the Arena Part 1"
348:
328:
319:
1371:United States town halls
1328:Representative democracy
946:Colorado Springs Gazette
434:Bryan, Frank M. (2003).
587:Retrieved 21 Dec. 2022.
93:A town hall meeting in
1350:21st-century movements
1225:. Congress Foundation.
872:Cite journal requires
656:"Theatre in the round"
358:Other uses of the term
249:Clinton, Massachusetts
103:, also referred to as
97:
1142:10.3138/9781442672833
1124:10.3138/9781442672833
542:. Dorchester Atheneum
540:"Dorchester Atheneum"
92:
1345:Indivisible movement
223:nearly as common as
146:political candidates
59:create a new article
51:improve this article
714:on December 9, 2004
160:, attendees do not
1340:Tea Party movement
1302:town hall meetings
1202:10.1007/BF01405348
1020:. 21 February 2017
791:The New York Times
101:Town hall meetings
98:
1358:
1357:
1318:Town hall meeting
1251:Town Hall Project
1133:978-0-8020-8618-1
1070:Houston Chronicle
832:10.1111/lsq.12456
771:978-0-7425-0071-6
602:www.legistorm.com
525:978-1-60138-408-9
491:978-0-313-38093-8
447:978-0-226-07796-3
382:Political surgery
154:direct democratic
142:elected officials
87:
86:
79:
61:, as appropriate.
1398:
1386:Political events
1381:Local government
1292:
1285:
1278:
1269:
1268:
1239:
1232:
1226:
1220:
1214:
1213:
1185:
1179:
1178:
1171:
1165:
1164:
1152:
1146:
1145:
1111:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1101:
1086:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1076:
1062:
1056:
1055:
1054:
1053:
1044:, archived from
1035:
1029:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1018:www.mediaite.com
1010:
1004:
1003:
1001:
1000:
986:
977:
976:
974:
973:
962:
956:
955:
953:
952:
938:
932:
931:
929:
928:
913:
907:
906:
904:
903:
888:
882:
881:
875:
870:
868:
860:
858:
850:
844:
843:
815:
809:
808:
806:
805:
782:
776:
775:
755:
749:
748:
746:
745:
730:
724:
723:
721:
719:
710:. Archived from
699:
693:
692:
685:
679:
678:
666:
660:
659:
652:
646:
645:
642:National Journal
637:
631:
630:
628:
627:
615:Mansky, Jackie.
612:
606:
605:
594:
588:
577:
571:
570:
560:
551:
550:
548:
547:
536:
530:
529:
509:
496:
495:
471:
458:
457:
455:
454:
431:
422:
421:
419:
418:
407:
245:President Carter
173:Washington, D.C.
109:town hall forums
82:
75:
71:
68:
62:
34:
33:
26:
1406:
1405:
1401:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1396:
1395:
1361:
1360:
1359:
1354:
1304:
1296:
1247:
1242:
1238:, All Business.
1233:
1229:
1221:
1217:
1190:Policy Sciences
1186:
1182:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1153:
1149:
1134:
1112:
1108:
1099:
1097:
1087:
1083:
1074:
1072:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1051:
1049:
1036:
1032:
1023:
1021:
1012:
1011:
1007:
998:
996:
988:
987:
980:
971:
969:
963:
959:
950:
948:
940:
939:
935:
926:
924:
915:
914:
910:
901:
899:
890:
889:
885:
873:
871:
862:
861:
856:
852:
851:
847:
816:
812:
803:
801:
783:
779:
772:
756:
752:
743:
741:
739:Washington Post
733:Walsh, Edward.
731:
727:
717:
715:
700:
696:
687:
686:
682:
667:
663:
654:
653:
649:
638:
634:
625:
623:
613:
609:
596:
595:
591:
578:
574:
561:
554:
545:
543:
538:
537:
533:
526:
510:
499:
492:
480:(2d ed.).
472:
461:
452:
450:
448:
432:
425:
416:
414:
409:
408:
404:
400:
368:
360:
351:
331:
322:
310:
297:health care act
274:
268:
220:Stephen Douglas
216:Abraham Lincoln
193:
180:
83:
72:
66:
63:
48:
35:
31:
24:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1404:
1394:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1356:
1355:
1353:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1336:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1309:
1306:
1305:
1295:
1294:
1287:
1280:
1272:
1266:
1265:
1260:
1254:
1246:
1245:External links
1243:
1241:
1240:
1227:
1215:
1196:(4): 457–474.
1180:
1166:
1147:
1132:
1106:
1081:
1057:
1030:
1005:
978:
957:
933:
908:
883:
874:|journal=
845:
810:
777:
770:
750:
725:
694:
680:
661:
647:
632:
607:
589:
572:
552:
531:
524:
497:
490:
459:
446:
423:
401:
399:
396:
395:
394:
389:
384:
379:
374:
367:
364:
359:
356:
350:
347:
330:
327:
321:
318:
309:
306:
267:
264:
225:stump speeches
192:
189:
179:
176:
85:
84:
45:of the subject
43:worldwide view
38:
36:
29:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1403:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1368:
1366:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1307:
1303:
1300:
1299:United States
1293:
1288:
1286:
1281:
1279:
1274:
1273:
1270:
1264:
1261:
1258:
1255:
1252:
1249:
1248:
1237:
1231:
1224:
1219:
1211:
1207:
1203:
1199:
1195:
1191:
1184:
1176:
1170:
1162:
1158:
1151:
1143:
1139:
1135:
1129:
1125:
1121:
1117:
1110:
1096:
1092:
1085:
1071:
1067:
1061:
1048:on 2017-02-19
1047:
1043:
1042:
1034:
1019:
1015:
1009:
995:
994:Common Dreams
991:
985:
983:
968:
961:
947:
943:
937:
922:
918:
912:
897:
893:
887:
879:
866:
855:
849:
841:
837:
833:
829:
825:
821:
814:
800:
796:
792:
788:
781:
773:
767:
763:
762:
754:
740:
736:
729:
713:
709:
705:
698:
691:. 2017-05-18.
690:
684:
676:
672:
665:
657:
651:
643:
636:
622:
618:
611:
603:
599:
593:
586:
585:JSTOR website
582:
576:
568:
567:
559:
557:
541:
535:
527:
521:
517:
516:
508:
506:
504:
502:
493:
487:
483:
479:
478:
470:
468:
466:
464:
449:
443:
439:
438:
430:
428:
412:
406:
402:
393:
390:
388:
385:
383:
380:
378:
377:AmericaSpeaks
375:
373:
370:
369:
363:
355:
346:
342:
338:
334:
326:
317:
315:
305:
303:
298:
293:
289:
287:
283:
279:
273:
263:
260:
256:
254:
250:
246:
241:
238:
234:
228:
226:
221:
217:
213:
208:
205:
203:
198:
191:United States
188:
185:
175:
174:
170:
169:United States
165:
163:
159:
155:
151:
150:town meetings
147:
143:
139:
135:
129:
125:
123:
119:
118:North America
114:
110:
106:
102:
96:
91:
81:
78:
70:
67:February 2017
60:
56:
52:
46:
44:
37:
28:
27:
19:
1317:
1313:Town meeting
1301:
1230:
1218:
1193:
1189:
1183:
1169:
1160:
1156:
1150:
1115:
1109:
1098:. Retrieved
1094:
1084:
1073:. Retrieved
1069:
1060:
1050:, retrieved
1046:the original
1040:
1033:
1022:. Retrieved
1017:
1008:
997:. Retrieved
993:
970:. Retrieved
965:Moran, Jay.
960:
949:. Retrieved
945:
936:
925:. Retrieved
923:. 2013-10-16
920:
911:
900:. Retrieved
898:. 2015-12-18
895:
886:
865:cite journal
848:
823:
813:
802:. Retrieved
790:
780:
760:
753:
742:. Retrieved
738:
728:
716:. Retrieved
712:the original
707:
697:
683:
664:
650:
641:
635:
624:. Retrieved
620:
610:
601:
592:
580:
575:
565:
544:. Retrieved
534:
514:
476:
451:. Retrieved
436:
415:. Retrieved
405:
392:Open cabildo
372:Town meeting
361:
352:
343:
339:
335:
332:
323:
311:
294:
290:
275:
266:21st century
261:
257:
253:Bill Clinton
242:
229:
212:1858 debates
209:
206:
197:town meeting
194:
184:colonial era
181:
166:
152:, a type of
130:
126:
108:
104:
100:
99:
73:
64:
40:
18:Town meeting
708:Marketplace
621:Smithsonian
302:empty chair
286:Brian Baird
233:Roger Ailes
158:New England
113:politicians
1365:Categories
1100:2017-02-21
1075:2017-02-21
1052:2017-02-21
1024:2017-02-21
999:2017-02-21
972:2017-02-21
951:2017-02-21
927:2017-02-23
921:DigitalGov
902:2017-02-23
896:DigitalGov
804:2017-02-18
744:2017-09-03
626:2017-02-18
546:2017-02-18
453:2012-10-25
417:2017-02-18
398:References
270:See also:
202:Jay Treaty
105:town halls
1234:Example:
1210:154572096
840:0362-9805
799:0362-4331
308:Australia
278:Tea Party
276:In 2009,
122:surgeries
55:talk page
1376:Meetings
1163:: 29–49.
675:Archived
482:ABC-CLIO
366:See also
237:Fox News
214:between
134:Facebook
49:You may
1089:TEGNA.
644:: 2996.
341:group.
178:History
167:In the
138:Twitter
1391:Crowds
1208:
1140:
1130:
838:
797:
768:
522:
488:
444:
349:Venues
329:Format
320:Canada
1206:S2CID
1138:JSTOR
857:(PDF)
718:3 May
314:state
57:, or
1128:ISBN
1095:KUSA
878:help
836:ISSN
795:ISSN
766:ISBN
720:2023
520:ISBN
486:ISBN
442:ISBN
218:and
210:The
162:vote
1198:doi
1120:doi
828:doi
136:or
107:or
1367::
1204:.
1192:.
1159:.
1136:.
1126:.
1093:.
1068:.
1016:.
992:.
981:^
944:.
919:.
894:.
869::
867:}}
863:{{
834:.
826:.
822:.
793:.
789:.
737:.
706:.
673:.
619:.
600:.
555:^
500:^
484:.
462:^
426:^
227:.
144:,
124:.
1291:e
1284:t
1277:v
1212:.
1200::
1194:3
1177:.
1161:4
1144:.
1122::
1103:.
1078:.
1027:.
1002:.
975:.
954:.
930:.
905:.
880:)
876:(
859:.
842:.
830::
807:.
774:.
747:.
722:.
658:.
629:.
604:.
549:.
528:.
494:.
456:.
420:.
80:)
74:(
69:)
65:(
47:.
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
