The challenge
Politicians had avoided divisive constitutional questions like abortion for decades.
The case
In 2016 Ireland convened a Citizens' Assembly of 99 randomly selected members of the public, plus a chair, to consider issues including the constitutional ban on abortion. Over several weekends members heard from experts and people with personal experience, deliberated and voted. Their recommendations shaped the question put to voters, and in the May 2018 referendum 66.4% voted to repeal the ban. An earlier convention had similarly paved the way for the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum.
Why it worked
Deliberation by ordinary citizens gave politicians cover to act on issues they had avoided for decades. It worked because its recommendations led directly to a binding vote.
Sources
- The Citizens' Assembly (2017). First Report and Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly: The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
- Referendum Ireland: Referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018.
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