Democracy by Assembly
America's Last, Best Hope
THE CRISIS AND THE CALLING
America stands at a precipice. The house of our republic—built on the Declaration of Liberty, Equality, and Justice for all—is crumbling before our eyes. From chaos campaigns to dark money to the ceaseless media circus, a storm of shocks has beset our nation—a spiral of multi-decade dysfunction.
The root of the problem is clear: a system that’s corrupt, tribal, and doesn’t represent everyday people. Our republic rests on two essential pillars: freedom and fairness. When these values remain in balance, our house stands strong and America thrives. But today that balance has been broken.
For too long, the wealthy few have claimed freedom for themselves while denying fairness to everyone else. In consequence, the promise of self-government has been betrayed. Alarm bells are ringing. If we don't act soon, our house will fall into ruin.
But this isn't a counsel of despair. It's a call to rise. At Assemble America, we see a path to rebirth: Democracy by Assembly.
THE SOLUTION: DEMOCRACY BY ASSEMBLY
In Democracy by Assembly, everyday Americans come together to learn, discuss, and decide. Through democratic lottery—like jury duty—Citizen Assemblies gather a broad mix of people from all walks of life to solve problems. These are Americans who look, think, and talk like us: nurses and teachers, veterans and firefighters, students and farmers.
Once assembled, they receive balanced information, deliberate as equals, and find broad agreement about what to do. This is real government by the people—and it works. It isn't about left vs. right. It's about making sure everyone has a seat at the table—and can help cook the meal.
Democracy by Assembly restores the essential balance between freedom and fairness:
DxA preserves freedom through direct citizen control, not elite domination
DxA guarantees fairness by giving everyone an equal chance to be selected
DxA ensures all voices are heard, not just the rich and famous
DxA creates spaces where we solve problems instead of fighting each other
DxA honors both personal liberty and the common good
Democracy by Assembly reconnects us with the values that make our house thrive. It honors Liberty and Equality. It promotes Dignity and Integrity. It puts power back where it belongs: with us, the people—not politicians, lobbyists, or billionaires.
How Citizen Assemblies Work:
Democratic Lottery Selection: Sortition guarantees true representation that can't be bought or manipulated.
Balanced Information Process: Participants receive facts from multiple perspectives, with expert testimony from across the spectrum.
Facilitated Deliberation: Structured conversation ensures all voices are heard with equal consideration.
Collective Decision-Making: Transparent process that builds legitimate solutions reflecting informed public judgment.
CITIZEN ASSEMBLIES IN ACTION
This isn't just theory. Citizen Assemblies have shown remarkable success at solving problems politicians can't or won't address:
Ireland's Constitutional Reforms: Randomly selected Irish citizens broke decades of political deadlock on abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and other contentious issues. Their recommendations, supported by nationwide referendums, resolved issues that had divided Ireland for generations.
Michigan’s Independent Redistricting Commission: Lottery-selected citizens study census data and draw congressional districts that are fair and balanced. Their work thwarts gerrymandering and undoes corruption.
Belgium's Permanent Citizens' Council: The German-speaking region of Belgium has established a permanent Citizen Council that works alongside the parliament. Randomly selected citizens set the agenda for deeper deliberation by Citizens' Assemblies on specific issues.
Bend, Oregon's Housing Assembly: A Citizens' Assembly of 29 randomly selected residents developed a comprehensive approach to youth homelessness in 2024.
These examples show what's possible when everyday people—not politicians—find solutions together.
OUR STRATEGY
Our strategy lays out a roadmap to achieve Democracy by Assembly: by building an unstoppable movement, grounded in American traditions, and aiming toward the first-ever People's Constitutional Convention by 2030.
Phase 1: Foundation Building (2025)
Establish pods and chapters across target states
Create core messaging and visual identity
Build initial coalition partnerships
Phase 2: Initial Campaigns (2026)
Launch signature "Democracy Reborn" campaign on Independence Day
Implement 50+ demonstration assemblies nationwide
Begin ballot initiatives and legislative campaigns
Create powerful visual contrast with partisan politics
Phase 3: First Victories (2026-2027)
Secure first election victories for assembly champions
Win initial ballot initiatives in target states
Begin formal implementation in pioneering municipalities
Build demonstration effect from early successes
Phase 4: Implementation & Expansion (2027-2028)
Implement first official state-level Citizens' Assemblies
Launch second wave of implementation campaigns
Begin federal legislation campaign
Prepare for general strike capacity
Phase 5: National Campaign (2028)
Coordinate with planned "People's Convention General Strike" (May 2028)
Field 25+ federal congressional candidates
Win additional state-level ballot initiatives
Build momentum during election season
Phase 6: Transformation (2029-2031)
Establish National Citizen Assembly
Implement constitutional renewal process
Secure ratification of democratic transformation
Complete institutional transformation by January 2031
OUR VISION: A PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Democracy by Assembly will brace our house and halt its slide. Even more, it can form the scaffolding for a People's Constitutional Convention. This Convention will create the democratic architecture we need to restore both freedom and fairness, independence and the common good.
Selected through democratic lottery to truly represent America, this multi-body convention will:
Let the people—not politicians or special interests—design a real democracy
Create a system where a farmer’s voice matters as much as a billionaire's
Restore the essential balance between freedom and fairness
Fulfill the promise of government truly of, by, and for the people
Starting with district and regional assemblies across America, this convention will create a blueprint for constitutional renewal through specialized democratic bodies:
Agenda Councils decide which issues need addressing
Proposal Panels develop specific ideas and solutions
Review Panels refine proposals with research and expert input
Citizen Juries make final decisions on proposals
Rules Councils ensure the process remains fair and transparent
The Convention's proposals will be ratified through a Constitutional Jury and national referendum—ensuring We the People have the final say. In short, the People's Convention will be a bold, visionary moment of democratic constitutional creation. It will do more than repair a cracked edifice—it will build a new house: a democracy for all.
ASSEMBLING AMERICA
America's democratic journey began in 1776. It remains far from finished. The founders understood that America is an enduring project. Each generation must improve, enhance, and reimagine our republic. Abolitionists destroyed slavery. Suffragists demanded equality. Unions won labor protections. Now it’s our turn.
Democracy by Assembly is the blueprint for our future. This is more than reform—it's reinvention. From the ashes of our broken politics, new life is rising. Citizen Assemblies are planting seeds of growth across the land.
Through Democracy by Assembly, we can clear out the rot in our house. We can redesign its walls. We can lay a fresh foundation of self-government.
We are the architects of democracy’s next upgrade. We are the builders of the America’s new house. We, the People, are assembling.
