ow do we reform a broken democratic system to reflect the modern world and more diverse societies? Is it possible to create a more equitable democratic system that reflects the citizens’ voice? The answer to creating a more equitable democratic system is in the far-off past and in Greek democracy, citizens’ assemblies. Already, countries, such as Ireland and Iceland, have utilized citizen’s assemblies to hear citizens’ voices on different issues. The assemblies are more democratic and diverse than most of the democratic systems that are implemented by countries across the globe. While there are logistical issues with citizen’s assemblies, they should be considered as a way to change and mitigate tension within nations and to improve democracies.
Most elected officials in democratic nations are wealthy individuals and do not reflect the population, but a small minority. The citizen’s assembly relies on equal representation from around the country to provide minority groups and disproportionately represented groups with a voice in legislation. The citizens who participate are randomly chosen through sortition. Although, the sortition process is not totally random in citizen’s assemblies. Normally, the citizens’ assembly as a group need to fit the demographic of the nation, so if the nation is 50% women then the assembly will be 50% women. Through considering the demographics of the nation the assembly is representing, the citizens’ assembly becomes more equitable and equal creating better representation of the people.
Ireland utilized a citizens’ assembly to discuss divisive issues, such as LGBTQ rights and abortion, in 2016. Citizens across the country were chosen randomly to discuss and vote on issues that affect the people. The vote and discourse provided by the citizens’ assembly was non-binding to the legislature; however, it provided insight on what the average citizen is thinking and feeling about issues that can affect their lives. While the citizens’ assemblies vote, which demonstrated that people felt favorably to legalize gay marriage and abortion, was not binding, it did lead to discourse in the legislator on if the laws against gay marriage and abortion needed to change. Eventually, Ireland voted, in 2018, to reform their abortion laws so abortion is legal in the country. Even though the citizens’ assembly could not codify and implement laws according to their votes, their discourse and thoughts on the issues led to eventual change.
The success in Ireland has led to other governments to consider implementing citizens’ assemblies, such as Scotland. While the citizens’ assembly has many advantages, there are some logistical issues that need to be discussed before it is implemented. One logistical issue is travel. Who will pay for the travel of the citizen to the assembly? In a country, such as the United States, which is widespread, it is difficult to imagine flying from one city to another to discuss different issues. It may be difficult for people to take the time from work or to fund their transportation. With new technology it may be easier for people to communicate and to work together to discuss issues. While not an ideal situation, the use of technology could work to allow for communicate between those in the assembly.
Also, there is the issue of who will oversee the assembly. One of the major problems with the Irish citizens’ assembly was that some of the citizens were not randomly selected, but recruited. It was not discovered until later that this mishap occurred, and because of the lack of oversight, many began to question if citizens’ assemblies truly work. Assemblies that may be created in the future need to have better oversight, and those in charge must be thorough in the process of randomly selecting members.
Citizens’ assemblies will not solve all the problems in our democratic systems, but they will support a more equitable system. These assemblies do not need to have binding authority, but, like in Ireland, can be used to make suggestions to the legislative body in democratic countries. Each country differs in how logistically these assemblies can be implemented. Countries that are more widespread or without much funding could face greater challenges in encouraging citizens’ assemblies to occur; however, through technology hopefully these issues would resolve. Citizens’ assemblies allow a diverse range of people to discuss and vote on issues that affect their daily lives, thereby giving the average citizen a voice.
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The Fight for Representation
April 28, 2020
H
ow do we reform a broken democratic system to reflect the modern world and more diverse societies? Is it possible to create a more equitable democratic system that reflects the citizens’ voice? The answer to creating a more equitable democratic system is in the far-off past and in Greek democracy, citizens’ assemblies. Already, countries, such as Ireland and Iceland, have utilized citizen’s assemblies to hear citizens’ voices on different issues. The assemblies are more democratic and diverse than most of the democratic systems that are implemented by countries across the globe. While there are logistical issues with citizen’s assemblies, they should be considered as a way to change and mitigate tension within nations and to improve democracies.
Most elected officials in democratic nations are wealthy individuals and do not reflect the population, but a small minority. The citizen’s assembly relies on equal representation from around the country to provide minority groups and disproportionately represented groups with a voice in legislation. The citizens who participate are randomly chosen through sortition. Although, the sortition process is not totally random in citizen’s assemblies. Normally, the citizens’ assembly as a group need to fit the demographic of the nation, so if the nation is 50% women then the assembly will be 50% women. Through considering the demographics of the nation the assembly is representing, the citizens’ assembly becomes more equitable and equal creating better representation of the people.
Ireland utilized a citizens’ assembly to discuss divisive issues, such as LGBTQ rights and abortion, in 2016. Citizens across the country were chosen randomly to discuss and vote on issues that affect the people. The vote and discourse provided by the citizens’ assembly was non-binding to the legislature; however, it provided insight on what the average citizen is thinking and feeling about issues that can affect their lives. While the citizens’ assemblies vote, which demonstrated that people felt favorably to legalize gay marriage and abortion, was not binding, it did lead to discourse in the legislator on if the laws against gay marriage and abortion needed to change. Eventually, Ireland voted, in 2018, to reform their abortion laws so abortion is legal in the country. Even though the citizens’ assembly could not codify and implement laws according to their votes, their discourse and thoughts on the issues led to eventual change.
The success in Ireland has led to other governments to consider implementing citizens’ assemblies, such as Scotland. While the citizens’ assembly has many advantages, there are some logistical issues that need to be discussed before it is implemented. One logistical issue is travel. Who will pay for the travel of the citizen to the assembly? In a country, such as the United States, which is widespread, it is difficult to imagine flying from one city to another to discuss different issues. It may be difficult for people to take the time from work or to fund their transportation. With new technology it may be easier for people to communicate and to work together to discuss issues. While not an ideal situation, the use of technology could work to allow for communicate between those in the assembly.
Also, there is the issue of who will oversee the assembly. One of the major problems with the Irish citizens’ assembly was that some of the citizens were not randomly selected, but recruited. It was not discovered until later that this mishap occurred, and because of the lack of oversight, many began to question if citizens’ assemblies truly work. Assemblies that may be created in the future need to have better oversight, and those in charge must be thorough in the process of randomly selecting members.
Citizens’ assemblies will not solve all the problems in our democratic systems, but they will support a more equitable system. These assemblies do not need to have binding authority, but, like in Ireland, can be used to make suggestions to the legislative body in democratic countries. Each country differs in how logistically these assemblies can be implemented. Countries that are more widespread or without much funding could face greater challenges in encouraging citizens’ assemblies to occur; however, through technology hopefully these issues would resolve. Citizens’ assemblies allow a diverse range of people to discuss and vote on issues that affect their daily lives, thereby giving the average citizen a voice.
