Accountable Governance: Local programs on accountable governance emphasize the legislative process, administrative capacity-building, transparency, service delivery, financing of government services, media relations, community development, and environmental management.

Judicial Rule of Law: Delegates explore U.S. approaches to court proceedings, the jury-trial process, the adversarial system, plea-bargaining, alternative dispute resolution, law enforcement and corrections practices, and the legislative process. Other possible topics include judicial independence, judicial ethics, juvenile justice practices, financial dispute resolution, bankruptcy proceedings, and judicial administration. Delegations usually meet with federal, state, and/or (if applicable) local legislators or their staff to discuss judiciary-related legislative issues and funding.

NGO Development: Local programs should enable delegates to observe firsthand how the nongovernmental sector works in the United States and how NGOs cooperate with the government, the private sector, their local communities, and each other to serve citizens. Delegations should visit successful NGOs, including interest/advocacy groups, and examine NGO fundraising activities, member recruitment, public relations, legislative advocacy and other outreach efforts, and overall program and financial management methods. Delegations also should visit government agencies that fund or otherwise collaborate with NGOs, and should investigate all aspects of government-NGO relations, including the legislative process.

Social Issues: Open World will invite mixed delegations of legislators, executive branch and NGO officials, and other community leaders to the United States to see how their counterparts here work to address social services delivery and funding issues. Programs should enable delegates to learn on-site about the operations, structure, and funding of leading public and private social service agencies; job-shadow their professional counterparts; meet with legislators and legislative staff to discuss social services issues, legislation, and funding; and meet with NGO leaders who work with or advocate for special populations (e.g., disabled, elderly, or economically disadvantaged citizens; adoptive families and children in the foster care system; abused, neglected, or abandoned children; victims of domestic violence; substance abusers; and those with life-threatening diseases and conditions).