Provisional Peoples' Assembly

The Provisional Peoples' Assembly (PPA) is the foundation for a global legislative body of foreign affairs delegates elected directly by their constituencies. It is the effort to create a deliberative network where representatives from all major political parties world-wide have a fair say in shaping global governance. Ultimately, the initiative aims to establish a standing assembly in New York City, home to the UN and capital of international relations.  The CW/PS provides institutional support for this new initiative, acting as the initial steward of this important step towards World Democracy. Contact person on the part of CW/PS is Dr Juan Federer.

Methodology for Calculating Seats

Seats in the PPA have been assigned to nations using a methodology based on the Penrose method and then reserved for political parties in proportion to their share in domestic legislative bodies. GDP and level of freedom as determined by Freedomhouse is taken into account when assigning seats.

Each current member nation of the UN receives a set of Population Seats. The number of seats is determined by using the Penrose method, which takes the square root of millions of inhabitants (rounding down). Each nation is guaranteed 1 seat.

1.     Based on the total number of Population Seats, an additional allotment of Economic Seats is created by taking 10% of the total population seats (e.g. 600 Population Seats => 60 Economic Seats)

2.     Rounding down, each nation receives a share of the Economic Seats equal to its portion of the world's total GDP. Most nations receive none. Only the most productive and populous nations end up receiving any economic seats at all (US, Japan, UK, Germany, China, etc). Given the fact that their voting power is leveled by the Penrose method, there's nothing unfair towards smaller nations in this approach of marginally rewarding economic output.

3.     The number of seats a nation is allowed to fill is then determined by its classification as Free, Partially Free or Not Free by the NGO Freedom House. A free country can fill all its seats, a partially free two-thirds and a nation deemed not free only half of its seats. Numbers are rounded up to the closest integer.

The final number of seats a nation is allowed to fill is finally reserved for a nation's various domestic political parties based on the parties' share of seats in their national bodies (that, if they exist at all, are directly elected by the people). The number is rounded off to the closest integer. If a nation ends up with unfilled seats, a seat is reserved for the parties that haven't yet received one and that have the most seats domestically.