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.
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.
DD&SA uses a transparent, auditable selection process. It begins with a large pool of residents and applies demographic balancing to ensure fairness.
Without balancing, random selection can produce skewed groups. With balancing, assemblies statistically mirror the population — ensuring fairness and legitimacy.
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.
Every stage of the assembly process is documented and published. This includes:
Transparency is essential for trust — and trust is essential for legitimacy.
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.
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 →