Wiktionary
n. 1 (context politics legal English) Input given by the public to governmental (or rarely other) bodies, about proposed legislation or regulation(s), during a period—and by means—set aside and prescribed by law. 2 (&lit public comment English)
Wikipedia
Public comment is a specific term of art used by various government agencies in the United States, a constitutional democratic republic, in several circumstances. It is sometimes called "vox populi". Generally these circumstances are open public meetings of government bodies which set aside time for oral public comments, or comments, usually upon documents. Such documents may either be reports such as Draft Environmental Impact Reports (DEIR's) or new regulations. There is typically a notice which is posted on the web and mailed to more or less ad hoc lists of interested parties known to the government agencies. If there is to be a change of regulations, there will be a formal notice of proposed rulemaking.
The basis for public comment is found in general political theory of constitutional democracy as originated during and after the French Enlightenment, particularly by Rousseau. This basis was elaborated in the American Revolution, and various thinkers such as Franklin, Jefferson and Thomas Paine are associated with the rejection of tyrannical, closed government decision making in favor of open government. The tradition of the New England Town Hall is believed to be rooted in this early American movement, and the distillation of formal public comment in official proceedings is a direct application of this format in the workings of public administration itself.
Usage examples of "public comment".
Barney also offered no public comment as to how people had managed on their individual assignments.
This sort of speculation about her is bound to create a great deal of public comment.
The taprooms were fiill now, and he discovered that the tall redheaded girl in men's clothing had been causing public comment for nearly a week.
Garvey said he'd just as soon not make any public comment on the possibility of a players' strike next summer -- but there is a lot of private talk about it among individual players, and especially among the player reps and some of the politically oriented hard rockers like Swift, Keating, and Kansas City's Ed Podolak.
The Lady, Charles Damaronde, and the Moon Man were gracious enough to make no public comment.
Currently, the press was puffing Grant, who had made no public comment.
She wondered how the President would respond to the rally and to the Vega transmission, on both of which some official public comment would have to be made tomorrow.