What are the philosophical antecedants for a sortitionally-chosen legislature?

Antecedents go back at least to the first democrats of Athens who wished, by using the lot, to avoid factional domination.

Here are a few others to begin with:

"...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." -- Declaration of Independence

"... that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -- Abraham Lincoln

"The most important political office is that of the private citizen." -- Louis D. Brandeis

Login to post comments
6367 reads

Make It Happen

Common Lot Productions creates print and video materials which educate about, and advocate for, the next step for democracy.   Policy-making bodies, from local to national, should be composed of willing and able citizens proportional to the population they serve. The use of sortition, random selection, is the only way to insure this.

In order for Common Lot Productions to continue, we must generate an income. Please purchase or donate.

Many respond “Great idea, but it’ll never happen”.  Please help prove them wrong.
Click here to see our list of products and services.

N.B. We seek to support ourselves and others through this enterprise. We are not a 'non-profit'; there are no tax deductions.

Press kit

The Common Lot: Next Step for Democracy Press Kit

Are you thinking about reviewing or commenting upon The Common Lot: Next Step for Democracy? Would you be interested in hosting a local showing along with a discussion group? Get a press kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Interview from the Year 2030

Whimsically provocative interview from the future.