Convening
Civic Engagement and Democracy: A Workshop and Reception on Deliberative State Governance
Participants of the Deliberative State Governance workshop co-hosted with FIDE – North America pose for a photo at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Jess Latos. On February 18, on the sidelines of the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, Meridian International Center and FIDE – North America convened a group of U.S. Secretaries of State, senior state leaders, and democracy experts for a workshop on state innovation in civic engagement.
The workshop was part of the Deliberative State Governance initiative led by FIDE – North America to strengthen public participation in local governance through citizens’ assemblies. By incorporating citizens’ voices and creating space for informed dialogue, officials and policymakers can generate creative solutions to complex problems while building trust within communities. The workshop concluded with a reception featuring prominent voices in the national security and democracy spaces, as well as philanthropic leaders and elected officials at the national and state levels.
Here Were the Top Takeaways from the Program: 1. Citizens’ assemblies complement representative democracy As societies must address complex policy problems stemming from technological advancement and rapid societal changes, traditional electoral cycles often limit the quality of civic debates and engagement. Low voter turnout and polarized tow n halls underscore the need for new solutions . Citizens’ assemblies offer a structured complement to representative democracy to tackle intractable societal challenges.
Randomly selected citizens are guided in a process of deliberation on high-stakes issues that require thoughtful tradeoffs rather than quick solutions. Their recommendations can infor m legislative decision-making , strengthen ins ti t utional legitimacy , and improve the quality of democracy . 2. Design d etermines success The effectiveness of citizens’ assembl ies depends on thoughtful design . Key elements includ e: a clear mandate on a policy question with space for action and deliberation , randomized participant selection that mirrors community demographics , neutral expert input to inform deliberation, skilled facilitation to guide discussion, and defined pathways for implementation .
Public credibility increases when government formally respond s to recommendations and clearly communicates next steps , even when not adopting every proposal . 3. A g rowing g lobal m ovement increasing government effectiveness Citizens’ assemblies are delivering results globally and locally. In Ireland, citizens’ assemblies helped break decades-long political deadlocks on l andmark policy reforms . In Canada , they elevated youth voices into policymaking for more ambitious approaches to sustainable development.
In France, the model helped mitigate deep societal tensions and mistrust towa rd government . Across the United States, states and cities a re experimenting with in-person, digital, and hybrid models that expand access and reduce barriers to participation. States and local governments are uniquely positioned to pilot and scale democratic innovation s given their proximity to constituents. 4. The d eep b enefits for trust and civic health Beyond polic y outcomes , citizens ’ assemblies transform democratic culture.
In Ireland and Canada , these deliberative processes changed the way communities have difficult conversations. M eaningfu l engagement in decision-making not only increase s citizens’ trust in instit utions and in one another , but also government officials’ confidence in citizens’ capacity for nuance d deliberation and considered judgment resulting in quality proposals. Over time , this build s democratic “fitness,” strengthening citizens’ ability to collaborate, deliberate, and solve public problems together. 5.
Deliberation strengthens democratic resilience Deliberative processes elevate the voices of most citizens seeking constructive solutions rather than partisan conflict. At a time of tense political polarization, citizens’ assemblies demonstrat e how participatory approaches can strengthen social cohesion and enable government to be more responsive , inclusive, and adaptive. By providing structured, representative processes for address ing complex public challenges , they help build consensus and enable policy breakthroughs on issues that have paralyzed traditional politics, strengthening democracy from the ground up.
Guests listen to remarks at Civic Engagement and Democracy: A Reception on State and Local Innovation at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Jess Latos. Georgia Clerc, Meg Clerc (Tour de Force), Marjan Ehsassi (FIDE – North America), and Todd Horst (Tricentis) in conversation at Civic Engagement and Democracy: A Reception on State and Local Innovation at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Jess Latos.
Secretary Al Schmidt (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) in conversation with Deputy Secretary Michael Lore (State of Maryland) at Civic Engagement and Democracy: A Reception on State and Local Innovation at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Jess Latos. Harry Gottlieb (Unify America) and Amy Lee (Ohio State University) in conversation with guests at Civic Engagement and Democracy: A Reception on State and Local Innovation at Meridian House on February 18, 2026.
Photos courtesy of Jess Latos. Max Bouchet (Meridian International Center) and Art O’Leary (Electoral Commission of Ireland) during a Q&A session at the Deliberative State Governance workshop at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Erik Cieslewicz. Secretary Akbar Hossain (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) speaking at the Deliberative State Governance workshop at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Erik Cieslewicz.
Marjan Ehsassi (FIDE – North America) delivers opening remarks at the Deliberative State Governance workshop at Meridian House on February 18, 2026. Photos courtesy of Erik Cieslewicz. Project summary Civic Engagement and Democracy: A Workshop and Reception on Deliberative State Governance | April 2026 Program Areas: State and Local Diplomacy .