Sortition / citizens' assembly

Decision-making or advisory bodies are selected by lot from the population, usually stratified so they resemble it, then deliberate with expert input.

Sortition was central to Athenian democracy. Modern advocates such as Landemore argue random selection produces cognitive diversity and avoids the distortions of electoral competition.

• Ireland's Citizens' Assembly (2016–2018) and Convention on the Constitution.
• France's Citizens' Convention on Climate (2019–2020).
• The permanent citizens' dialogue in East Belgium (since 2019).

Selected members lack electoral accountability, governments may cherry-pick recommendations, and those who decline to take part may differ systematically from those who accept.

Citizens' assemblies are increasingly common. Their impact varies with whether governments commit in advance to respond.