Group Decision Making, Political

Many of the decisions made in democracies result from group processes, both small and large. The emergence of deliberative democratic theory over the past two decades has spurred research on political group decision making by stressing the role citizens can play in larger political processes. Researchers informed by deliberative democratic theory examine and evaluate existing organizations and institutions designed to promote citizen participation and deliberation, from government-sponsored citizen forums to voluntary groups involved in democratic social movements. Research has also looked at trial juries, which provide citizens with a formal opportunity to render a consequential public decision (verdict or civil judgment). In addition, scholars interested in political group decision making have investigated the process, content, and quality of group deliberation by governmental officials in institutions, ...