Basic standards for organizing citizens’ assemblies
These standards are from Citizens' Assemblies - a guide to democracy that works by Marcin Gerwin
1. Random selection of participants
All members of a citizens’ assembly are selected by lot. Ideally, every member
of the population eligible to take part in a citizens’ assembly should be able to potentially receive an invitation to participate.
2. Demographic representation
The composition of a citizens’ assembly should broadly match the demographic profile
of the community participating in the process. A set of criteria
may be used to ensure demographic representativeness
of the group, like age, gender, geographic area, or others.
The aim is to create a community in a small scale that “feels
like us”. The size of the group should allow for inclusion
of a wide diversity of views. A stipend should be provided
to all participants to the amount that would at least cover
the costs of attending the citizens’ assembly.
3. Independent coordination
The citizens’ assembly is
run by an independent team of coordinators, which is
responsible especially for preparing the process of random
selection, developing the agenda, and inviting experts and
facilitators. If the citizens’ assembly is organized by local
authorities or the parliament, it is important that all members
of the coordination team are not part of the civil service.
The coordinators should be impartial, e.g. not active politicians or direct stakeholders.
4. Citizens’ assembly can invite experts
Despite the programme being prepared by the team of coordinators, the citizens’ assembly can invite additional experts of their own
choice. This may be in the form of a speech in person, a video
streaming, a recording, a written note or other.
5. Inclusion of a widest practical range of perspectives
If there are diverse solutions and perspectives on a subject,
ideally all of them should be presented during the educational
phase of the citizens’ assembly (by expert speakers). A method of combining perspectives due to a limited time or other
practical considerations may be applied. Presentations may
have the form of a speech in person, a video streaming,
a recording, a written note or other.
6. Inviting all stakeholders
Any organization, informal
group or an institution whose area of work and expertise
is related to the topic of the citizens’ assembly has the right
to present its opinion to the citizens’ assembly in person.
The role of the team of coordinators is only to identify
the stakeholders – they don’t make a selection. Due to
limited time and a large number of stakeholders, a method
of choosing their representatives may be used. In this case,
a diversity of perspectives should be taken into account.
7. Deliberation
Discussions which include listening to others mindfully and weighing options are the key elements
of a citizens’ assembly. The programme should involve
discussions in small groups as well as in the plenary in
order to maximize opportunities to speak and to be heard.
The deliberation phase should be run by skilled facilitators.
8. Openness
All members of society should be able to provide
input to the citizens’ assembly in the form of comments,
proposals or suggestions.
9. Sufficient time for reflection
Providing a sufficient amount
of time for reflection is necessary to achieve well-thought-out
decisions. If the matter is not urgent, it is best not to rush.
The citizens’ assembly should be able to prolong its meetings
– their length and number – if it chooses to do so (subject
to budgetary limits).
10. Impact
The follow-up to the citizens’ assembly’s recommendations should be clear from the outset. Ideally,
recommendations that receive the support of the citizens’
assembly at an agreed threshold should be treated as binding
(to such an extent that is legally permissible in the given
situation).
11. Transparency
All presentations during the educational,
plenary phase should be transmitted live and recorded.
All materials presented to the citizens’ assembly should
be made available online. Clear information about how
recommendations of the citizens’ assembly will be implemented should be provided online and updated as actions
occur. A report presenting details of methodology used
for organizing a citizens’ assembly should be provided by
the coordination team.
12. Visibility
Each citizens’ assembly is an important event
in the life of a community and citizens should be informed
that it is happening and information on how they can get
involved and follow it should be provided. The citizens’
assembly should be publicly announced before it is formed.
This set of standards was created by Marcin Gerwin with input from experts around the world.