Why and How to Innovate Democracy: Sharing Hard Decisions with Your Community

Kathy Jones, DirectornewDemocracy Foundation

May 14th, 2015

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

How can local governments engage with everyone?

• Online engagement?

• Vox pops?

• Public forums? • …Ignore public opinions?

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

Work harmoniously with citizens

Ensure the loudest voices don’t dictate the debate

Empower citizens by giving them information and time to deliberate

Allow community members to make the hard decisions

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

What is newDemocracy?

Dedicated to doing democracy better

Using Citizens’ Juries in decision making processes

Adding deliberative processes at all levels of government

A transparent process that builds trust within the community

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

Citizens' Juries

• Not a quick fix

• Requires the ‘experts’ to hand over control

• Letting participants ask for the information they need, and giving it to them

How is this done successfully?

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

How do Citizens’ Juries work?

• Random selection

• Give participants time and information

• Ensure that the authority of the jury is pre-agreed

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

The three stages of a Citizens’ Jury

Preparatio

n

• Introduce the project• Set expectations and encourage involvement• Transparent information distribution

Jury Deliberatio

ns

• Provide multiple ways for the Jury to collaborate eg: online; group discussions; question time between sessions.

• Be clear on what can be changed and what can’t be changed• Formulate hypothetical scenarios

Delivery

• Competent facilitation• Address all opinions from the Jury• Reach a decision

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

How to structure a deliberative discussion – a five session model

1. Introduction- Explain the process- Build trust

2. Understanding- Identify knowledge gaps

amongst participants- Supply information

3. Draft report structure- Interactive discussions- Guest speakers- Reach an agreed direction

for the report

4. Intensive workshop - Develop priority lists - Agree direction

5. Reach a consensus

Modern democracy frustrates the very thing we need: collaboration

The Delivery Phase

Draft report

Achieve 80% agreement for all Jury decisions

Final Report submission

Questions

May 14th, 2015newdemocracy.com.au