METHODS
Citizens' AssemblyIn a citizens’ assembly, a group of citizens drawn by lottery deliberate on a societal issue and provide advice to the government. This participatory process is often used for complex challenges where politicians alone struggle to find solutions or where public opinion is essential.
WHAT?
A citizens’ assembly is a dialogue process where citizens advise or assist the government in making decisions on a societal issue.
WHY?
Citizens’ assemblies are used for complex, often polarizing issues that politicians struggle to resolve on their own.
HOW?
In multiple sessions (typically five to seven), a selected group of citizens engage in dialogue with each other and experts on the issue at hand.
RESULTS
A collective recommendation or a set of proposals for policymakers to act upon.
Why a Citizens’ Assembly?
A citizens’ assembly allows ordinary people to influence societal issues they find important, ensuring decisions to better reflect public needs. It can be used for topics such as climate, healthcare, housing, and transportation. Notable examples include the Irish citizens’ assembly on abortion legislation and climate assemblies across Europe.
How Does a Citizens’ Assembly Work?
A citizens’ assembly consists of several key components:
- A Clear Question: The government and citizens define the assembly’s topic together. The issue should be significant and timely, with political commitment to taking the outcomes seriously.
- Randomly Selected Citizens: Participants are chosen by lottery to reflect the demographics of the municipality or region concerned. Selection considers factors such as age, education level, and sometimes opinions on the issue.
- Information & Deliberation: The assembly meets multiple times. Participants engage in dialogue with each other and with experts, stakeholders, and those with lived experience to fully explore all sides of issue. They exchange knowledge and perspectives and seek common ground. These discussions occur in various small-group settings.
- Formulating Recommendations: Based on deliberations, participants develop a set of recommendations, which are then presented to the government.
Outcome
- Well-Founded Recommendations: Citizens’ assemblies produce widely supported and well-reasoned recommendations. Because participants engage deeply with the topic and consider diverse perspectives, the outcomes are usually thoughtful and realistic.
- Long-Term Vision: Citizens are not bound by short-term political pressures, allowing them to focus on long-term solutions.
- Greater Civic Engagement: Citizens’ assemblies provide people with an opportunity to take responsibility for their communities and increase political engagement.
Preconditions
A citizens’ assembly is a complex participatory process requiring serious commitment from both the government and the participating citizens. Expert organization, process design, and facilitation are crucial for success.
Read more about the role of process facilitation in our essay:
“Doing It Right for ‘The Good Conversation’ in the Citizens’ Assembly”, published in A Gift to Democracy? Perspectives on the Development of Citizens’ Assemblies (Boom Publishers).
Projects
- National Citizens’ Assembly on Climate – “How can we in the Netherlands eat, use products, and travel in a way that is better for the climate?”
- Citizens’ Assembly Maastricht – “How do we design the city so that everyone feels comfortable?”
- Citizens’ Assembly Utrecht – “How do we want New Year’s celebrations to take place in Utrecht from 2024/2025 onwards?”
- Citizens’ Assembly Haarlem – “How can the municipality help residents reduce CO₂ emissions?”
More information?
- Learn more about citizens’ assemblies at Bureau Burgerberaad.
- Contact Petra de Boer or Monique Janmaat for further inquiries.
New publication! Essay on Citizens’ Assemblies – Perspectivity’s insights
Citizens’ Assemblies: the role of process guidance for ‘the good conversation’. The essay is published in the bundle “A gift for democracy? Perspectives on the development of citizens’ assemblies”, published by Boom Publishers.
National Citizens’ Assembly on Climate: What an incredible adventure!
Perspectivity contributes with 5 colleagues, Petra de Boer, Han Rakels, Monique Janmaat, Chiwei Luu and Anna Betsy Kanneworff to the National Citizens’ Assembly.
Citizens’ Assembly Maastricht
Perspectivity in collaboration with EMMA designed and facilitated the first citizens’ assembly in the city of Maastricht.
Our toolbox
In our work, we use a broad range of methodologies and approaches that lean on decades of experimental research. We gratefully build on the theories and concepts developed by our teachers and colleagues. To achieve sustainable results, we determine which method fits every project best.
Methods we frequently use: