General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why not start direct democracy cities? [View all]True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)But if you want me to speculate...
Start with small, community assemblies. Once a sufficient number of such assemblies exist that they can claim to be representative of an entire city, just add their cumulative results together under the label of "city assembly." In other words, you don't have a separate assembly for larger issues - you decide issues from all levels in the same local assembly, and just add them up collectively to determine what is resolved on any given level.
As for who goes and whatnot, hold it on a weekend once or twice a month, with obvious and appropriate mechanisms for agenda-setting and emergency meetings or whatever. Other obvious stipulations - confirmed proxies for those who want to attend but can't, quorum limits, etc. If enough don't show up, then that is as good as a vote not to hold the meeting.
As for its disposition to the rest of government, the assembly will decide what kind of relationship to seek with Mayors, city councils, bureaucracies, etc. And if they prove committed to being an assembly, then elected leaders in traditional government will not want to alienate an active voting bloc - they'll be shown respect, and eventually deference. Over time, their role could become official.