Increasingly, citizens are becoming entitled by law to the protections of procedural fairness
in the making of all official decisions about any matter which affects them directly.
This means in particular that citizens will have the right to a hearing concerning the matter
at issue before any final decision is made; and the right to know the case or allegation to be
answered. They may also be entitled to professional representation in more serious matters.
Under this approach, citizens also have the right to have their submissions properly
considered by the official who is to make the decision, the right to a decision which is free
from bias or apparent bias; and the right to a decision the making of which excludes
irrelevant considerations and takes into account only the merits of the matter