What If the People Governed? Summary of "It’s Time for a Fourth Branch of Government

Josh Lerner and Marjan Ehsassi propose a "House of the People"—a permanent citizens' assembly serving as a fourth branch of U.S. government—to revitalize democracy through inclusive, informed public deliberation. Aligned with the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation’s values of collaboration, inclusivity, and continuous learning, the assembly would foster cross-partisan dialogue, elevate underrepresented voices through lottery-based selection, and promote thoughtful engagement with complex issues. As citizens’ assemblies gain momentum globally, this model offers a compelling path to move U.S. governance from polarization to participation. Read more in the blog post below.

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In a recent opinion piece, Josh Lerner (People Powered) and Marjan Ehsassi (Federation for Innovation in Democracy - North America) propose establishing a "House of the People" - a permanent citizens' assembly functioning as a fourth branch of government in the United States.

This proposal strongly aligns with NCDD's core values and mission:

• Collaboration: The proposed House of the People exemplifies NCDD's collaborative approach by bringing diverse Americans together across divides to deliberate on challenging policy issues. Like NCDD's own work, it creates structured opportunities for people to "discuss, decide, and take action together effectively on today's toughest issues."
• Inclusivity: The citizens' assembly model reflects NCDD's commitment to inclusivity by ensuring representation from across the demographic and political spectrum. By selecting participants through lottery rather than election, it creates space for voices often excluded from traditional political processes—valuing "the contributions of every individual" and embracing "diversity as a source of strength."
• Continuous Learning: The article describes how citizens' assemblies in 34 countries have evolved over time, demonstrating the same dedication to growth and improvement that NCDD champions. Participants engage in deep learning about complex issues before deliberating—mirroring NCDD's commitment to "constantly curate and create information and knowledge about new programs, ideas, methods, and scholarship.

Take Action

As practitioners and supporters of dialogue and deliberation, we have a unique opportunity to advance this promising democratic innovation. We encourage NCDD members to:

1. Read the full article at: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/22/opinion/time-for-fourth-branch-government/
2. Share your expertise on citizens' assemblies in our upcoming discussion forums
3. Connect with the authors' organizations to explore collaboration opportunities
4. Consider how your own work might contribute to building momentum for citizens' assemblies at local, state, or national levels

The time is ripe to move beyond defending our current democratic institutions to reimagining and expanding them. Let's join this vital conversation about how dialogue and deliberation can transform American democracy.