Citizens’ Assemblies are a different kind of democratic process, bringing together everyday people

Two key elements put residents at the center of governance

Democratic
Lotteries

Lottery-selected panels guarantee representation in public decision making. Designed to reflect city’s demographics, they are, in effect, a city in one room

In-depth
Deliberation

Changes decision-making itself. Informed by experts from all sides of an issue, panelists collaborate to make evidence-based policy recommendations.

Citizens’ Assemblies prioritize access and inclusion by design

To advance inclusion, citizens’ assemblies have been opened up to include all residents

Imagine a democratic body reflective of Los Angeles’ demographics:

From racially and ethnically diverse populations

From a household earning less than $69,778

Speak a language other than English at home

Since 2010, democracies around the globe have been increasingly turning towards deliberative processes to help solve complex problems.

FAQ

    1. A representative group of random citizens are selected via a democratic lottery to participate in the assembly. All participants are paid for their time and transportation costs, and given access to elder and child care, language access support, and technology support.

    2. They come together in an assembly at small tables with a neutral facilitator at each table. Experts and others address the assembly to ensure everyone is aware of the facts, diverse views, and proposed options. Participants deliberate, listen, and talk to each other, and give reasons for their ideas.

    3. The citizens assembly decides on the best way forward, and submit their recommendations to the government.

  • Public Democracy LA is prioritizing equity in the Assembly Planning Process. We are prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our taskforce committee, our awareness and outreach efforts, and collaboration with community organizations.

    In the Assembly Process, we are prioritizing equity by promoting representative selection processes, and by providing language translation, elder/childcare, stipends, tech access and support, and transportation for Assembly participants.

  • Public Democracy LA is working with our volunteers, coordinating committee, and community organizations to explore opportunities. Some options may include resolving an intractable policy question, creating a range of policy suggestions on an issue such as homelessness, or engaging public input in major decisions like land use.

  • Yes! Citizen’s Assemblies use the term “Citizen” to mean inclusion—even for those without citizenship. We are reclaiming and redefining the meaning of “Citizen” to include all.

  • A Citizen’s Assembly was implemented in Petaluma , CA in 2021 to decide the future of the Fairgrounds. Other examples include:

    • National assemblies on the future of social care and climate change in Scotland.

    • President Emmanuel Macron created a “citizens’ convention on climate” to come up with measures that will enable France to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030.

    • A “climate assembly” in Britain empowered citizens to design climate solutions.

    • Two citizens’ assemblies have taken place in Ireland to discuss a variety of topics, including the legalization of abortion.