Civic Assemblies: Restoring Democracy Through Random Selection

Across the United States, a transformative approach to democratic participation is gaining momentum. Civic assemblies are reshaping how cities address contentious policy debates by turning to randomly selected residents—everyday people from all walks of life—to help guide local governance decisions. This innovative model represents a fundamental shift away from traditional top-down political structures, offering citizens a direct pathway to influence the future of their communities.

In Los Angeles, one striking example illustrates the profound impact this approach can have on individual citizens and their relationship with democracy itself. Hunter Futo, a software engineer who had long considered herself disaffected and apolitical, experienced a remarkable transformation through her participation in the city's groundbreaking civic assembly initiative. What began as a random selection for what seemed like an ordinary civic duty evolved into a deeply meaningful engagement with local governance that fundamentally changed how she views her role in society.

Futo's journey began in January when she and a handful of other Los Angeles residents were randomly chosen to participate in a historic project: developing the city's first-ever preamble for the municipal charter. This unprecedented effort sought to crystallize the core values and aspirations of the city's diverse population into a foundational document that would guide Los Angeles's governance for years to come. What made this process particularly significant was not just its novelty, but the deliberate decision to include ordinary citizens in shaping such an important civic document.