Submitted by elupusor on

The Drupal PublicGov distribution is a Drupal-based starter kit tailored specifically for building government and public sector websites. It's designed to meet common needs of municipalities, public institutions, and local or national government bodies — with features that ensure accessibility, transparency, usability, and compliance with open data and privacy regulations.

Key Features of PublicGov

Adapted Content Types


PublicGov offers flexible, customized content types tailored to the specific needs of government institutions. Whether it's news, events, or official documents, content types can be easily adjusted for different use cases and sectors:

  • News & Announcements
  • Events with calendar integration
  • Services (what the government provides)
  • Departments & Officials
  • Documents & Files repository
  • Job postings
  1. Accessibility First
    • WCAG 2.1 AA-compliant out of the box
    • Semantic markup, proper contrast, keyboard navigation, and screen reader support
  1. Multilingual Support
    • Ready for multilingual content (especially relevant for EU or multi-ethnic regions)
  1. Open Data Integration
    • Easily expose and display datasets
    • Support for CSV/JSON/XML file uploads
    • CKAN or other open-data platform integration possibilities
  1. Preconfigured Layouts
    • Homepage templates with areas for announcements, alerts, services, and quick links
    • Responsive and mobile-friendly
  1. Security and Compliance
    • GDPR-ready cookie management
    • Secure user role management
    • HTTPS ready
  1. Customization-Friendly
    • Built with site builders and devs in mind (clean architecture, extendable content model)
    • Easily themeable with Drupal’s standard theming system (Twig-based)

Managing Petitions


Engage citizens with the ability to create, sign, and track petitions on various public issues. This feature supports transparency, encourages citizen participation, and helps government bodies assess public sentiment.

Content Syndication & Widgets


Easily distribute content across multiple platforms and websites using content syndication. Widgets allow for seamless integration of content from PublicGov onto other sites, keeping information up-to-date and accessible to a broader audience.

Workflows


Automate and streamline the process of content creation, approval, and publishing with customizable workflows. PublicGov’s workflows help government agencies manage complex processes efficiently and ensure that the right stakeholders are involved at each stage.

Orgcharts


Visualize the organizational structure of government institutions with dynamic org charts. The Orgchart module allows users to see hierarchies, roles, and contacts, providing transparency and improving internal communication within public organizations.

 
Tender Portal Integration
PublicGov seamlessly integrates with government tender portals, allowing for the automatic posting and management of tenders. This integration ensures that public sector procurement is transparent and easily accessible, enabling citizens and businesses to stay informed about government projects and bidding opportunities.		Career Portal Integration
PublicGov integrates with career portals, streamlining job posting and application processes for government institutions. This feature enhances transparency in public sector recruitment, allowing citizens to easily view job opportunities and apply directly through the platform.		Open Data Gov Portal Integration
PublicGov supports integration with open data portals, providing easy access to government datasets in compliance with transparency and open government standards. This integration allows public institutions to publish data in machine-readable formats, ensuring citizens and developers have easy access to valuable government information for analysis, research, and innovation.		 

Technical Stack

  • Based on Drupal 10
  • Uses Layout Builder or Paragraphs for flexible content layouts
  • Often uses GovCMS components or inspired by US Web Design System (USWDS) or similar EU standards

Good Use Cases

  • Municipal or City Hall websites
  • Government portals for citizen services
  • Digital transparency platforms (e.g., publishing budgets, decisions, policies)
  • Ministry/Department web presence

Where to Find It

While not an official Drupal core distribution, PublicGov is often found:

If you're looking for an installable publicgov distribution and can’t find it directly, it's often a rebranded/customized solution built on top of base distributions like: