Federal Register Website Gets a User-Friendly Redesign

In Washington, the Federal Register is regular reading for most lawyers and lobbyists eager to catch up on the latest policy proposals, regulations and public meeting notices. For most people outside the Beltway, though, the Register's arcane legal jargon renders the weekday compilation virtually indecipherable. Now, as part of its ongoing campaign to more directly engage voters and enhance governmental transparency, the Obama administration has launched a new, more user friendly edition of the Register.

The site, which launched yesterday, is designed to resemble a typical online news site, with rules and regulations divided into six categories: money, environment, world, science and technology, business and industry, and health and public welfare. According to the Washington Post, the site will also feature highlighted stories that have particular relevance to current news or debates, along with a simply written summary of the piece. Each notice will also include a series of links to agencies seeking public feedback, as well as the ability to share stories on Facebook or Twitter.

"It's like USA.gov meets USA Today," Register managing editor Michael White recently told reporters. "We think it will open up the site in a way that the general public wouldn't normally go into it." Government regulation and day-to-day policy making isn't exactly fodder for headlines, but it shouldn't be completely inscrutable to the general public either. If a sleeker, more navigable website can help make the political machine more understandable and transparent, it's certainly worth the effort. [From: Washington Post and Federal Register]

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