Randomly selected residents are helping cities make fairer, wiser decisions on climate, housing, justice, and the future of democracy.

Why it matters

Most people feel excluded from political decision-making — and for good reason.
Elections alone can’t solve complex, long-term issues like climate adaptation, AI governance, or housing justice.

Citizens’ Assemblies (CAs) flip the model by recruiting everyday people — not politicians — to study issues deeply, deliberate together, and recommend solutions.

It’s democracy by us, not just for us.

The big picture

Citizens’ Assemblies use sortition — a lottery system — to create groups that mirror a community’s demographics: age, income, race, education, neighborhood.

Participants receive clear information, hear from experts, and work through trade-offs.

The result:

• Less polarization
• More informed decisions
• Policies with broad buy-in
• Trust restored through transparency and shared responsibility

These assemblies are emerging as a 21st-century blueprint for healthier democracy.

How it works

1. Residents are selected by lottery.
Oversight committees ensure diversity and representation.

2. Participants learn together.
They study briefing materials, hear expert testimony, and explore challenges in depth.

3. Deliberation follows.
Small-group discussions allow every voice to be heard, supported by trained facilitators.

4. Recommendations are created — and published.
Assemblies develop actionable proposals, which governments publicly respond to.

This process has proven more thoughtful, inclusive, and evidence-based than traditional top-down policymaking.

Real-world examples

Ireland: Breaking the Deadlock

Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly sparked landmark policy shifts on marriage equality, abortion rights, and climate action.
Impact: Highly divisive issues were debated with respect and nuance — and resolved through informed public decision-making.

France: Climate Assembly Rewrites the Rulebook

The French Citizens’ Convention on Climate gathered 150 residents to design a national climate roadmap.
Outputs: 149 proposals on decarbonization, food systems, mobility, and ecological protection — many now shaping national law.

Ostbelgien, Belgium: The World’s First Permanent Citizens’ Assembly

A small German-speaking region built a standing Citizens’ Council to continuously set the public agenda.
Why it’s historic: It institutionalizes citizen-led governance year-round.

Melbourne & Sydney: Housing, Transport, and the Public Good

Australian cities are using assemblies to address housing affordability, public transit, and long-term urban design.
Key success: Greater public buy-in for controversial density and zoning decisions.

Toronto: Policing & Community Safety

Toronto convened a CA to rethink public safety, mental health response, and alternatives to policing.
Outcome: Recommendations that redirected funding to prevention, crisis teams, and community services.

Bogotá, Colombia: Youth Assemble for Climate Action

A CA composed entirely of young people developed climate adaptation priorities for one of Latin America’s fastest-growing cities.

What’s new

Cities worldwide are moving from opportunistic, one-time assemblies to permanent deliberative bodies built into government charters.

Emerging trends:

• AI governance assemblies
• Climate resilience councils
• Local food systems & urban agriculture panels
• Digital democracy platforms using open-source tools like Decidim
• Youth-only assemblies shaping education and policy agendas
• Assemblies for Indigenous sovereignty and land stewardship

Democracy is becoming more participatory, more informed, and more human-centered.

The shift

Citizens’ Assemblies represent a deeper transformation:
From: adversarial politics
To: collaborative problem-solving
From: winners vs. losers
To: shared stewardship
From: distrust
To: deliberation, transparency, and collective intelligence

They are redefining what democracy can be in a world that needs cooperation more than ever.

What’s next

Expect rapid growth in assemblies focused on:

• Housing affordability & zoning justice
• Climate resilience & green infrastructure
• Ethical AI, automation, and data rights
• Public health preparedness
• Local energy planning & community ownership
• Spatial justice and transportation equity
• School governance & youth-designed policies

As communities take the lead, democracy becomes less of a crisis — and more of a practice we build together.