2018/08/13 by John Gastil, Erik Olin Wright, Erik Olín Wright · 148 citations
Social Sciences · #Computer science #Deliberation #Deliberative democracy #Democracy #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Epistemology #Ideal (ethics) #Law #Law and economics #Law in Society and Culture #Legislature #Philosophy #Political Philosophy and Ethics #Political science #Politics #Public administration #Representation (politics) #Set (abstract data type) #Sociology #Virtue
paper · doi:10.1177/0032329218789886
published in Politics & Society 46(3), 303-330 (SAGE Publishing)
openalex publication_date 2018/08/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In this article, we review the intrinsic democratic flaws in electoral representation, lay out a set of principles that should guide the construction of a sortition chamber, and argue for the virtue of a bicameral system that combines sortition and elections. We show how sortition could prove inclusive, give citizens greater control of the political agenda, and make their participation more deliberative and influential. We consider various design challenges, such as the sampling method, legislative training, and deliberative procedures. We explain why pairing sortition with an elected chamber could enhance its virtues while dampening its potential vices. In our conclusion, we identify ideal settings for experimenting with sortition.