How they work
Deliberative processes (citizens' assemblies, citizens' juries) are initiated by governments, parliaments or bodies to make decisions on complex issues, in respond to political dilemmas or long-term problems. Citizen participation allows decisions to be taken with greater social legitimacy .
Citizenship is activated through a civic lottery that generates a random group of people representing the socio-demographic reality of their territory. The group is provided with the time, information and resources necessary to learn and deliberate. In this way, recommendations - and concrete answers -on a specific dilemma are elaborated collectively.
Deliberative processes conclude with a series of recommendations that are reached by consensus or by a large majority. The public authority that promotes them acquires a prior commitment to the results of the deliberation.
Civic raffle
Informed deliberation
Recommendations
Recent mainland and island examples
According to OECD figures, more than six hundred Citizens' Assemblies have been held worldwide by 2020, 82% at the local and regional level, focusing mainly on issues related to infrastructure, urban planning and health, and 18% at the state and international level, addressing issues such as the environment or technology policy.
In Spain and Portugal, different deliberative processes have been and are being promoted at national, regional and local levels. Any issue related to a political dilemma can be addressed by a Citizens' Assembly.
The topics that have been addressed to date in the Iberian Peninsula reflect our contemporary concerns: climate, mental health, youth or the improvement of democracy, the relationship between citizens and government, the reception of migrants and work in schools. These processes have been driven or advised by some of the member organizations of the Network.
The processes carried out between 2016 and 2023 are listed here , according to the theme worked on.