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This weekend, 75 members of the public from across the UK gather online to begin examining the question ‘How should the UK’s democracy work?’
In this blogpost, project lead @alanjrenwick sets out what the Assembly will do, & why it deserves attention bit.ly/3tMPOhS
This weekend, 75 members of the public from across the UK gather online to begin examining the question ‘How should the UK’s democracy work?’
In this blogpost, project lead @alanjrenwick sets out what the Assembly will do, & why it deserves attention bit.ly/3tMPOhS
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Running for six weekends, the Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK is part of the Constitution Unit’s wider research project, Democracy in the UK after Brexit, funded by @ESRC and delivered in partnership with public participation charity @involveUK
Running for six weekends, the Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK is part of the Constitution Unit’s wider research project, Democracy in the UK after Brexit, funded by @ESRC and delivered in partnership with public participation charity @involveUK
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The Assembly will discuss:
How should democracy in the UK work?
What principles should underpin the system?
How should power be distributed between parliament, government, courts and the public?
What behaviours do people expect from politicians & fellow citizens?
The Assembly will discuss:
How should democracy in the UK work?
What principles should underpin the system?
How should power be distributed between parliament, government, courts and the public?
What behaviours do people expect from politicians & fellow citizens?
4/ Why do these questions need attention?
Democracy works best when public confidence in its functioning is high. Yet confidence in the democratic system in the UK is low
But there has been little attempt to dig deeper into people’s thinking. The project will help fill that gap
Democracy works best when public confidence in its functioning is high. Yet confidence in the democratic system in the UK is low
But there has been little attempt to dig deeper into people’s thinking. The project will help fill that gap
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More specifically, Dr Renwick argues, recent events have put the democratic system under considerable strain.
The Brexit process highlighted differences of view on the proper balance of power between parliament and government, and the roles of the courts and referendums.
More specifically, Dr Renwick argues, recent events have put the democratic system under considerable strain.
The Brexit process highlighted differences of view on the proper balance of power between parliament and government, and the roles of the courts and referendums.
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In addition, COVID-19 brought into question how far government should be able to decide matters without direct parliamentary involvement.
The insights of the Assembly will illuminate such ongoing debates.
In addition, COVID-19 brought into question how far government should be able to decide matters without direct parliamentary involvement.
The insights of the Assembly will illuminate such ongoing debates.
7/ Why a citizens’ assembly?
Many people do not have the opportunity to carefully consider how our democracy should work.
So, there’s a danger that we only know the public’s top-of-the head responses to pollster questions, which may not be reflective of how people really think.
Many people do not have the opportunity to carefully consider how our democracy should work.
So, there’s a danger that we only know the public’s top-of-the head responses to pollster questions, which may not be reflective of how people really think.
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A citizens’ assembly can overcome that difficulty: it can show us what a cross-section of the population at large think once they have learnt about and considered the issues in more depth. At least on the surface, that can only aid informed policymaking.
A citizens’ assembly can overcome that difficulty: it can show us what a cross-section of the population at large think once they have learnt about and considered the issues in more depth. At least on the surface, that can only aid informed policymaking.
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The Assembly members are highly representative of the UK population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, education, disability status, where they live in the UK, vote (or non-vote) in the 2016 Brexit referendum & 2019 general election, and views on citizens’ role in democracy
The Assembly members are highly representative of the UK population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, education, disability status, where they live in the UK, vote (or non-vote) in the 2016 Brexit referendum & 2019 general election, and views on citizens’ role in democracy
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Kicking off our first weekend we have a line-up of fantastic speakers: @anandMenon1, @Fox_Claire, @ParmPlummer, @grainnewalsh, @DrHannahWhite, @williesully, @albertpweale, Baroness (Shami) Chakrabarti, Lord Jonathan Sumption, and Jeremy Wright QC MP.
Kicking off our first weekend we have a line-up of fantastic speakers: @anandMenon1, @Fox_Claire, @ParmPlummer, @grainnewalsh, @DrHannahWhite, @williesully, @albertpweale, Baroness (Shami) Chakrabarti, Lord Jonathan Sumption, and Jeremy Wright QC MP.
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In short, the citizens’ assembly process will enable more informed and considered public discussion, yielding recommendations on the future shape of democracy that will deserve close attention from policymakers and wider publics alike.
In short, the citizens’ assembly process will enable more informed and considered public discussion, yielding recommendations on the future shape of democracy that will deserve close attention from policymakers and wider publics alike.
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Want to find out more?
This webpage provides more information on the scope of the Assembly, and briefings and speaker presentations will also be published here following each weekend: bit.ly/3lvPjF9
#CitizensAssembly #democracy #DeliberativeDemocracy
Want to find out more?
This webpage provides more information on the scope of the Assembly, and briefings and speaker presentations will also be published here following each weekend: bit.ly/3lvPjF9
#CitizensAssembly #democracy #DeliberativeDemocracy
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