Democracy Levels

Democratic System Card

Evaluate whether a democratic system is ready for the power it's given

The Democratic System Card is a structured evaluation tool that helps assess whether a democratic system has the qualities needed to handle different levels of decision-making power. Think of it as a comprehensive health check for democratic processes and systems.

What is a Democratic System Card?

A Democratic System Card documents and evaluates a democratic system across three critical dimensions:

  • Process Quality - Is the process itself good enough? (representation, informedness, deliberation, substantiveness, robustness, legibility)
  • Delegation - Can the authority effectively hand over power? (integration, ability to bind, commitment)
  • Trust - Will the process be accepted and work in practice? (awareness, participation, accountability, buy-in)
Editable Card Template → Card 1-pager →

Who Should Use Democratic System Cards?

Decision-makers at AI Organizations

  • Before implementing a democratic process, assess if it's robust enough for your intended use
  • Compare options when choosing between different democratic systems or providers
  • Identify improvements needed before moving to higher democracy levels

Democratic Infrastructure Providers

  • Design better systems by understanding critical quality dimensions
  • Communicate capabilities clearly to potential clients
  • Identify gaps in the democratic infrastructure ecosystem

Advocates & Researchers

  • Evaluate commitments by organizations claiming to use democratic processes
  • Compare approaches across different implementations
  • Identify systemic gaps where innovation is needed

Regulators & Policymakers

  • Set standards for democratic processes in AI governance
  • Evaluate compliance with democratic governance requirements
  • Understand tradeoffs between different system designs

How to Use a Democratic System Card

1. Document the System

Start by describing:

  • How the democratic process or system works at a high level
  • What other systems it depends on (e.g., sortition data, authentication)
  • The specific context where it will be used

2. Evaluate Each Dimension

For each dimension and sub-dimension:

  • Describe how that aspect works in your system
  • Use the guiding questions to assess quality
  • Be honest about limitations and challenges

3. Determine Appropriate Level

Based on your evaluation:

  • Identify the highest democracy level the system can safely support
  • Note which dimensions are bottlenecks
  • Plan improvements if targeting higher levels

4. Use for Decision-Making

System cards help you:

  • Choose between different democratic systems
  • Communicate transparently about governance
  • Track improvements over time
  • Build stakeholder trust

Resources

System Card Template

Download a template

Editable Card Template (Google Docs) → Card 1-pager (PDF) → Template (PDF) →

Example Cards

See sample cards

Citizens' Assembly System Card → Habermas Machine System Card →