Across the country a handful of communities are quietly revolutionizing the way governments and citizens work together by incorporating an innovative model called a citizen assembly into their public engagement. (If you’re short on time, check out Civic Genius’ quick citizen assembly explainer on Instagram, Threads or Facebook)
Public meetings should be opportunities for governments to hear what constituents think and incorporate feedback into their actions. They should be a chance for members of the public to speak from their experiences and perspectives, advocating for what they believe.
If that’s your typical experience of a public meeting, then you’ve been going to different ones than we have. More often, elected officials feel like they’re under attack or only hearing from a select few of the loudest voices. Citizens often walk away wondering whether they had any impact at all or wishing they could have had a conversation instead of a one-way transmission.
In a citizen assembly, a randomly selected, representative group of people comes together across ideological and demographic differences to learn about, deliberate on, and recommend solutions to key public policy questions. Around the world, more than 600 citizen assemblies have driven real government action, often easing the adversarial relationship between governments and the people they represent.
At the outset of a citizen assembly, elected officials commit to incorporating the assembly’s recommendations into their decision-making. This could mean formally considering and responding to the assembly’s recommendations, integrating them into policy, or even adopting them wholesale.
One of the very first citizen assemblies in the United States is set to launch soon in Millcreek, UT, where Civic Genius and YOUnify are collaborating with the mayor and city council to reimagine public engagement. This will be the first of six pilots across the country, forming a community to share learnings and best practices.
Our model leverages extensive experience designing deliberative processes both inside and outside of government and is customizable to fit the unique needs and dynamics of each community. Importantly, the model balances fidelity to global best practices with innovation and adaptation to the U.S. context.
Want to explore whether a citizen assembly could be right for your community? Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also watch the League’s recent Citizens’ Assemblies 101 webinar or catch us in Phoenix, AZ for a Fall School on Citizens’ Assemblies.
