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Mini-Publics, (Lack of) Representativeness, and Legitimacy Beliefs

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  • Germann, Micha

Abstract

The participants in deliberative mini-publics are typically randomly selected; therefore, mini-publics are often marketed as representative of the wider population. However, in practice, mini-publics are unlikely to be fully representative due to their small size and non-response bias. I report the results of a pre-registered survey experiment designed to assess the implications of deviations from statistical representativeness for citizens’ legitimacy beliefs (N = 1,308). Consistent with prior research, I find that the involvement of a mini-public in democratic decision-making can lead to substantial increases in perceptions of process legitimacy; however, even minor biases in the composition of mini-publics substantially decrease those gains while larger biases can wipe them out entirely. The results of this study temper hopes that mini-publics offer an easy fix to perceptions of low democratic legitimacy.

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  • Germann, Micha, 2025. "Mini-Publics, (Lack of) Representativeness, and Legitimacy Beliefs," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55, pages 1-1, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:55:y:2025:i::p:-_5
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