This is how HomeParliaments work
House parliaments enable civic engagement wherever opinions are formed: at family meals, conversations with friends in a café, at the local bar, or in the park. Because political participation means more than just voting.
How does a house parliament come into being?
It's easy: Choose one of the available topics, sign up, and invite friends to your House Parliament. If you activate the matching feature, even people you don't know can participate. If you don't want to create a House Parliament, you can join another one. We recommend that a House Parliament have at least three and no more than eight people.
How does a house parliament work?
Each House Parliament discusses a general question. Three sub-questions and a guide will guide you through the discussion. In addition, the additional information we provide offers exciting perspectives. At the end of the House Parliament, all participants enter the results online.
Where do house parliaments take place?
A House Parliament can take place anywhere, as long as it's a quiet space for a few hours of conversation. You can download and print the provided documents. You only have to enter the results online. A House Parliament can also take place digitally via video chat.
What should house parliaments achieve?
Many house parliaments on a topic create a picture of opinion that becomes more meaningful the more people participate. This information is forwarded to politically responsible individuals, who then comment on the results. This creates a dialogue between citizens and politicians on equal terms.
Further questions
Where do the topics come from?
The current topics are part of the ABSTIMMUNG21 project. The association organizes nationwide referendums. The topics are to be discussed in state parliaments beforehand.
Do you have a topic of your own that you'd like to discuss in a House Parliament? Become a questioner! Whether it's a regional issue, a national issue, or relevant to Germany as a whole—a House Parliament can, in principle, be held on any topic. Through quality criteria, we will work together to ensure that a House Parliament can be held. We look forward to receiving your draft proposal for our editorial team.
How long does a House Parliament last?
We recommend that you allow at least three hours. When a topic is examined from multiple perspectives, the most informed opinions and decisions emerge. The enclosed guide and additional information help keep the discussion engaging. This way, the time will fly by.
Can I participate in multiple House Parliaments?
Yes, you can participate in as many House Parliaments as you want.
How does the matching work?
If the matching function is activated, the House Parliament will be publicly displayed on this website. This means that anyone interested in the topic can join until all eight spots are filled. The House Parliaments displayed are sorted by date.
Do you have questions or feedback about house parliaments?
We're constantly developing the concept and welcome your comments or questions. Simply email our editorial team.