Sortition Assemblies
Sortition assemblies are the core of the DD&SA model. They are groups of residents selected by random lottery — with demographic balancing — who receive time, evidence, and expert input to understand an issue in depth. They are designed to be fair, representative, and structurally honest.
Unlike elected bodies, sortition assemblies have no parties, no whipping, and no career incentives. Members are ordinary residents who deliberate openly and transparently, producing recommendations that the wider public then votes on.
Why sortition?
Sortition is not new. It was used in ancient Athens, Renaissance Italy, and modern citizens’ assemblies across Europe and Canada. It works because it removes the structural pressures that distort decision‑making in party‑political systems.
Sortition solves three structural problems
- No party loyalty: members are not tied to manifestos or internal hierarchies.
- No career incentives: members are not seeking re‑election or promotion.
- No ideological filtering: selection is random, not based on political alignment.
How members are selected
DD&SA uses a transparent, auditable selection process. It begins with a large pool of residents and applies demographic balancing to ensure fairness.
- Random invitations are sent to residents.
- Those who accept enter a volunteer pool.
- Demographic data is collected (age, sex, region, etc.).
- A “Goldilocks” algorithm selects a balanced group.
- Randomness is publicly verifiable using published seeds.
Why demographic balancing matters
Without balancing, random selection can produce skewed groups. With balancing, assemblies statistically mirror the population — ensuring fairness and legitimacy.
What assemblies do
Assemblies meet over several sessions to understand an issue in depth. They hear from experts, stakeholders, affected groups, and residents. They deliberate, question, and evaluate evidence before producing clear recommendations.
- Members receive accessible evidence packs.
- Experts present multiple perspectives.
- Facilitators ensure balanced participation.
- Deliberation is structured, respectful, and transparent.
- Recommendations are published in full.
Transparency and trust
Every stage of the assembly process is documented and published. This includes:
- Selection methods
- Evidence packs
- Expert submissions
- Deliberation summaries
- Final recommendations
Transparency is essential for trust — and trust is essential for legitimacy.
Assemblies do not replace the public
Sortition assemblies are not mini‑parliaments. They do not make binding decisions. Instead, they produce informed recommendations that the wider public then votes on. Assemblies provide depth. Public votes provide legitimacy.
Where to go next
To understand how assemblies fit into the full DD&SA model, explore: How DD&SA Works →
To see how assemblies scale nationally, visit: The DD&SA Blueprint →