Demarchy / Sortition / Klerostocracy

The following are a few links about the curious idea of demarchy - drawing representatives by lot.

Short overview by Donna L. Quesinberry.

Wikipedia entry.

Healthy link page on "Sortition Democracy."

Mid-length, easy-reading analysis of the concept.

Your own further research on the issue may be more insightful than anything else said here.

Demarchy might have a place in the House of Commons. In that lesser role it's compatible with hereditary monarchy, an aristocratic peerage, and the general presumptions of Anglo-Saxon Common Law.

The reduction in electioneering is always nice, although there might be some benefit to allowing Ministers an attempt to survive a recall vote every two years. If they win, let them stay two more years. If they lose, draw a new name from the hat.

And like hereditary monarchy (and maybe more so), demarchy removes ambition from politics. Unlike elected representatives, the demarchic Minister doesn't get to Washington because he has the biggest fangs or the biggest lust for Mammon.

Of course we shan't forget that the demarchic Commons and the hereditary Lords should still only function primarily as a veto on the King, not as legislators.