The theory and practice of citizens' juries
By: SMITH, Ghaham
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Contributor(s): WALES, Corinne.
Material type: 
ArticlePublisher: UK : Policy Press, july. 1999Subject(s): ChinaPolicy & Politics 27, 3, p. 295-308Abstract: Citizens' juries are currently being promoted by a range of organisations which claim that they offer an institutional setting in which citizens are afforded a meaningful opportunity to deliberate on matters of public policy. This article argues that the emphasis on deliberation in citizens' juries should be of interest to theorists of deliberative democracy who often fail sufficiently to address the question of institutional design. The practice of citizens' juries is considered in light of the ideals of deliberative democratic theory. It is argued that with careful attention to the design of the different stages of the jury process, citizens' juries can offer a legitimate and innovative approach to public participation in decision-making processes in contemporary democracies
Citizens' juries are currently being promoted by a range of organisations which claim that they offer an institutional setting in which citizens are afforded a meaningful opportunity to deliberate on matters of public policy. This article argues that the emphasis on deliberation in citizens' juries should be of interest to theorists of deliberative democracy who often fail sufficiently to address the question of institutional design. The practice of citizens' juries is considered in light of the ideals of deliberative democratic theory. It is argued that with careful attention to the design of the different stages of the jury process, citizens' juries can offer a legitimate and innovative approach to public participation in decision-making processes in contemporary democracies
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