Translation of the French article by Jacques Rouchaud
A new word for a simple idea
Demosciocracy: demos, the people, and scientia, knowledge. Power comes from the people, and decisions are guided by knowledge, experience and competence, not by parties.
Power starts from the bottom
Everything begins close to home. For France: 352 territories (the former sub-prefectures), each divided into 20 districts, making 7,040 districts. In each district, one representative of the people and one representative of the trades and activities are drawn by lot, electronically, openly and verifiably.
These 40 people form the Territory Council, half people, half trades. It decides the priorities of the territory and recruits a Director General, a competent professional, who can be dismissed at any time if he does not give satisfaction.
Two chambers drawn from the territories
In each Council, one member is drawn by lot for the Chamber of the People and one for the Chamber of Corporations and Services. Each chamber therefore has 352 members. Together, they vote the laws and oversee their application. Neither dominates the other.
A team to lead, not a chief
The country is led by a team of 24 people. The people first vote, in a single round, to select the 4 or 5 best teams; the two chambers then choose the finalist, with 75% of the votes. The team applies the laws and can be dismissed if it betrays its programme.
An end to career politicians
- A 2-year term, then 40 years before being able to return to the same office.
- Everyone keeps their job and their salary; only actual expenses are reimbursed, on receipts.
- No political parties: they divide citizens.
- Parity between women and men; participation possible from the age of 14.
Free and responsible territories
Each territory receives an allocation according to the same rule for all, based on its population and its area, and manages it like a good father of the family. The five best-managed territories receive a bonus: it is the quality of management that is put in competition, not the citizens.
What already exists elsewhere
No country is a demosciocracy, but several already show pieces of it:
- Slovenia has a chamber of trades and local communities, whose members keep their jobs;
- Switzerland is led by a collegial government and often consults the people;
- San Marino entrusts power for only six months, then allows citizens to judge its outgoing leaders;
- Ireland and German-speaking Belgium call on citizens drawn by lot.
Demosciocracy brings these good ideas together in a single, coherent system, from the base to the summit.
For France, and for all countries
The figures are given for France. Each country adapts them to its population and its geography, keeping the same principles: Liberty — Equality — Truth. No one is master, no one is weak.
Demosciocracy is not a definitive truth: it is an invitation to debate and to build together.
Contact: jacques.rouchaud@me.com
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