A DIY guide to becoming an MP and a database of the connections between the powerful could soon be created online.

一项关于成为议员以及有权力的人之间联系数据库的DIY指导将会被在线创造出来。

A DIY guide to becoming an MP and a database of the connections between the powerful could soon be created online.

The two ideas are among those being considered by MySociety - a charitable group that helps construct civic¹（市民的，公民的） tools.

It is looking for ideas for new ideas to enhance its existing sites, entirely² new projects or ways to spread the word about the digital democracy group.

Previous competitions have produced a site that automated³ and logged Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

Statistics from the Ministry⁴ of Justice suggest that the FOI site, WhatDoTheyKnow, is behind 8.5% of the requests received by central government departments.

MySociety also set up the WriteToThem website that helps people get in touch with their MP.

Similar requests for proposals were run in 2003 and 2006 and this time, said MySociety founder⁵ Tom Steinberg, it was looking for one big idea to develop.

"The next step will be on a different scale from what we have built before," said Mr Steinberg, "something that might have an order of magnitude（数量级） more impact or more users."

Those submitting ideas do need to provide detailed⁶ technical specifications⁷, said Mr Steinberg, but the proposal must be possible to build.

All the ideas submitted will be subject to public scrutiny⁸（公开监督） said Mr Steinberg. The comments will help decide which one to build. The judging panel will be comprised of the 30 or so people who keep MySociety and its associated websites running.

Those with good ideas have until 15 September to submit them to MySociety. Early suggestions include Me MP, which would make it easier to stand as an independent in a election, and LittleSis which would plot the social relationships between those in power.

Mr Steinberg said he expected recent events, both political and technological⁹, to influence the ideas sent in.

"We are seeing a world that's being more informed by the existence of social networks," he said.

"We're also in a post MPs' expenses era when transparency has gone, temporarily, from being only of theoretical interest to literally¹⁰ the most contentious¹¹ issue of the moment."