The Rise of Citizens' Assemblies

In 403 BC Athens decided to overhaul its Institutions. A diastrous War with Sparta had shown that Direct Democcracy, whereby Adult Male Citizens Voted on Laws, was Not enough to Stop Eloquent Leaders from getting what they wanted, and indeed from Subverting Democracy altogether.

So a New body, chosen by lot, was set up to Scrutinise the Decisions of Voters. It was called the Layers Down of Law and it would be given time to ponder Difficult Decisions, Unmolested by Siver'Tongued Orators and the Schemes of Ambitious Politicians.

This Ancient Idea is back in vogue. Around the World Citizens Assemblies and other Deliberative Groups are being created to consider questions that Politicians have struggled to answer. Over weeks or months, 100 or so Citizens, picked at Random, but with a view to creating a body reflective of the Populationas a whole in terms of, Gender, Age, Income, and Education, meet to discuss a Divisive topic ina considered, careful way.

Often they are Paid for their Time, to ensure that it is Not just Political Wonks who Sign-Up. At the end they Present their Recomendations to Politcians. Before Covid-19, these Citizens met in Conference Centers in Large Cities where, by mingling over lunch breaks, they discovered that the Monsters who Disagree with them turned out to be Human after all. Now they mostly gather on Zoom.

A large Four Day Experiment in the U.S. softened some Republicans' Views on Imigration and some Democrats' became Less eager to Raise the Minimum Wage.

In Ireland, Two 18 Month long Citizens' Assemblies showed that the Country dispite its Deep Catholic Roots, was far more Socially Liberal than Politicans had realized. Then Assemblies overwhelmingly Recommended the Legalisation of both Same-Sex Marrige and Abortion. Both were Legalized with Large Majorities.

In France, a 2019 Citizens' Assemblies on Climate with 150 Members, Approved 2 Measures to the Constitution to help Preserve the Environment and Biodiversity, and a Law to Criminalise Ecocide. It was Adopted, and will help to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by at least 40% by 2030.

To work well, these Assemblies need a Clear Subject to Discuss. They are best suited to grappling with Large, seemingly Intractabe Problems, but it as helpful if the Topic is framed as a Choice.

It is inevitable that, as Assemblies proliferate, some will Fail. but when they Work Well, these Groups provide Elected Representatives with a Mind-Clearing Idea of what Voters Really Want.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker