1. An urgently required concrete step to “fix” our democracies.
In the light of the great discontent with democratic policy making in many countries we urgently need to make our policy systems work better. There are many proposals but no effective process to move forward and to identify the best concepts. If we do not find and agree on an effective solution soon to solve the present deficits in our democratic policy making systems, the stability of our democratic nations and the quality of life on the globe appear to be at stake. This model provides a highly constructive way forward to make our democracies “work”.

2. Logically conclusive.
The model is based on simple Systems Thinking which highlights the relationship between the goal and the parameters affecting the goal. If we want to build the most effective democratic policy making system conceivable we must optimize control of the stakeholders over the policy making system. To optimize control we as citizens need to fulfill three key parameters: Optimal know-how on building effective policy making systems, power, and resources. (We must check whether other basic requirements such as the ability to read and write and to communicate are fufilled too.)

3. The most effective way forward.
By incorporating the three fundamental requirements for effective control the model should provide the most effective and fastest way to enable our democratic policy making systems to cope with the complex challenges facing our nations and the world. Any proposal for “constitutional reform” which is not built on the identification of the best know-how by an effective know-how system is likely to be only a compromise. It may well prove not to be effective at all.

4. An effective evaluation process for all present proposals.
So far our debate on how to improve democracy does not move forward, because it is not organized effectively. Opinions, such as the proposal to establish more direct democracy, are put forward on the web or in books. But there is no clear addressee and no effective process for assessing these proposals. The model provides a highly effective process to evaluate all proposals presently put forward on enhancing the performance of our democratic policy making systems. Being based on the identification of the best know-how available, the process will guarantee in as much as possible that solutions of the highest quality are selected.

5. The best quality of democratic policy making conceivable.
By leading to a policy making system founded on the best know-how available and by identifying all parameters which affect the quality of policy making (quality of control, quality of policy making processes, qualification and motivation of politicians, resources, power) as well as ensuring that those parameters “are in place”, the approach will deliver the best quality of democratic policy making conceivable.

6. Permanent self-optimization.
The work of the Know-how System I, integrated in the model, will ensure that the methods for optimizing democracy, including the approach suggested here, are constantly evaluated. This will lead to permanent optimization of the model itself and of the work of the proposed Citizens’ Control Association.

7. A possibility for constructive participation in the policy making process for all citizens.
The model provides all citizens with the possibility to join in effective control of the highest quality over the democratic policy making system in their societies. It provides a means to turn frustration with the performance of democracy into highly constructive engagement. The model contributes that way to social stability and peace as a chief precondition to the well-being of people.

8. Combination of direct and indirect systems in policy making.
Reflecting the many demands for more direct democracy the model acknowledges that our policy making system must possibly consist of a combination of direct and indirect elements. With the Citizens’ Control Association it establishes an effective system to assign individual policy making issues optimally to each of these systems and leads to the most effective combination of both systems.

9. Less dependence on qualifications of politicians.
By establishing the best systems and procedures for policy making (a “policy making governance code”) and identifying the best democratic options to ensure adherence to it, the approach suggested here reduces our dependence on the individual capacities and qualifications of politicians for setting up effective policy making procedures. Instead of hoping for new politicians or parties to design better policies, we must ascertain the highest quality of policy making in our democratic nations by setting the “rules of the game” in such a way that they guarantee the highest possible quality of policy making.

10. Limited scope for corruption.
With developing and taking (democratic) measures to enforce a governance code for policy making the model also limits the scope for corruption in public offices in as much as possible.

11. Enhanced trust in democracy.
Citizens experiencing that an organization working on their behalf shapes and checks the policy making system and does its very best to ensure that the system works at the highest performance levels possible, will trust much more in the political system than this is presently the case.

12. Increased social and political stability.
Enhanced trust in democracy and citizens working together in making democracy work will increase the social and political stability of our societies.