There have been significant advances in Collective Intelligence technology (far greater than what's seen on the Internet today) that would allow governments to quickly identify solutions to difficult problems, using the knowledge, experience and creativity of an engaged citizenry.
Such public, participatory networks (including a website such as petitions.whitehouse.gov) require a combination of government stewardship, scientific and economic know-how, and the sort of socio-political expertise similar to what our Founding Fathers undertook in drafting the Constitution.
Applying the latest CI science, the network would be as democratic, meritocratic, transparent, "living" and motivating as possible, designed to vastly improve America's (the People's) ability to innovate and make decisions.