Deliberative assembly facts for kids

A deliberative assembly is a group of people who meet to make important decisions for a larger group. They use special rules, called parliamentary procedure, to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak and that decisions are made fairly. Think of it like a school council meeting or a club meeting where members discuss ideas and vote on what to do.

How Deliberative Assemblies Work

A famous book called Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised explains how these groups usually work. Here are some key things about them:

• Making Decisions Together: A group of people meets to talk about things and make choices for everyone in their organization or community.
• Meeting in One Place: They usually gather in a single room or area, either in person or online, so everyone can participate at the same time.
• Freedom to Speak: Each member can share their thoughts and opinions freely.
• Equal Votes: Every member has an equal vote, meaning their vote counts just as much as anyone else's.
• Acting for the Whole Group: The people at the meeting make decisions that affect the entire group, even if some members are not there.

Different Kinds of Assemblies

There are many types of deliberative assemblies, each with a slightly different purpose:

Mass Meeting

A mass meeting is a group gathering that is open to anyone interested in a certain topic. These meetings are often not very organized at first. For example, people might hold a mass meeting to discuss a local park or a community issue.

Local Group Meeting

A local assembly of an organized society is a regular meeting for members of a local club or organization. Imagine your school's debate club or a local environmental group holding their weekly meeting. These are examples of local group meetings.

Convention

A convention is a large meeting where people represent smaller groups or units. For instance, delegates from different states might meet at a political convention to choose a candidate. These meetings are usually temporary, and the representatives are chosen for a short time.

Legislative Body

A legislative body is a special group that makes laws. Its members are usually chosen by voters. Examples include a country's parliament or a state legislature that creates rules for everyone. Local groups like city councils also make laws for their towns.

Board Meeting

A board is a group that gets its power from an outside authority, like a company or a government. This authority tells the board what it can and cannot do. For example, a school's board of education makes important decisions about how the school district is run.

What About Committees?

A committee is a smaller group of people formed from a larger deliberative assembly. Committees help the main assembly by looking into specific topics or doing certain tasks. For example, a school council might have a committee to plan a dance or research new school rules. A committee itself is not usually called an assembly, but it helps the assembly do its work.

See also

In Spanish: Asamblea para niños