How to Use the Manifesto Laboratory

Welcome! The Manifesto Laboratory is where we collaboratively build Participate UK's manifesto. Every member can propose ideas, help develop proposals, and vote on what becomes official policy. This guide will walk you through exactly how to participate.

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🌟 Overview: The Three-Stage Process

Think of the Manifesto Laboratory as a democratic assembly line for ideas. Each proposal moves through three stages, getting more refined and gaining more support at each step:

Total time from idea to published policy: 6-10 weeks

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🚀 Getting Started: Submitting Your First Idea

Have an idea for what should be in our manifesto? Here's exactly what to do:

Step 1: Visit the Incubator

1. Go to the Manifesto Laboratory
2. Click on the "🌱 Incubator" phase
3. Browse existing ideas to see if yours is already there
4. If your idea is new, click "New Proposal" in the "Initial Ideas" section

Step 2: Write Your Idea

Your initial proposal should be short and focused - just 1-3 paragraphs. Include:

• A clear title - What is your idea in 5-10 words?
• The concept - What are you proposing?
• Why it matters - Why should this be in our manifesto?
• Key questions - What needs to be explored further?

Step 3: Choose a Category

Select which topic area your idea fits into:

• Democratic Structures - Assemblies, sortition, decision-making systems
• Constitutional Reform - Written constitution, bill of rights, constitutional framework
• Electoral System - Voting systems, representation, electoral reform
• Economic Democracy - Worker ownership, participatory budgeting, economic decision-making
• Local Governance - Local assemblies, community councils, municipal democracy
• Digital Democracy - Online participation, digital tools, technology
• Implementation Strategy - How to achieve reform, tactics, organizing, campaigns
• Rights & Freedoms - Civil liberties, human rights, constitutional protections

Step 4: Submit and Engage

1. Submit your proposal - Click "Create proposal"
2. A Google Doc will be created - An admin will create a collaborative document and link it to your proposal within 24 hours
3. Respond to comments - Community members will ask questions and offer suggestions
4. Refine your idea - Edit the Google Doc based on feedback
5. Build support - Ask people to endorse your idea if they like it

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📈 Progressing Through the Stages

From Incubator to Nursery

When you're ready:

• You have 10+ endorsements on your proposal
• You've addressed major questions in comments
• You're committed to developing the full proposal

What to do:

1. Comment on your proposal: "I'd like to request a progression vote to the Nursery"
2. An admin will create a 7-day vote
3. Announce the vote to your supporters
4. If you get 50%+ approval, you move to the Nursery!

Working in the Nursery

Congratulations! Your idea is now in development. Here's what happens:

1. Collaborative Development (2+ weeks minimum)

• Write the full proposal - Use the Google Doc to develop your idea in detail (aim for 1000-2000 words)
• Invite co-authors - Ask others to help develop it with you
• Gather evidence - Find case studies, research, data to support your proposal
• Draft manifesto language - Write the actual 2-3 sentences that would go in the final manifesto

2. Attend a Deliberation Meeting

• Schedule a meeting - Work with admins to schedule a deliberation session for your proposal (usually 1 hour)
• Present your proposal - Give a 10-minute overview
• Facilitate discussion - Lead a structured discussion with participants
• Address concerns - Listen to objections and refine your proposal
• Take notes - Update your Google Doc with insights from the meeting

3. Request Progression to Merge Room

When you're ready:

• You've been in the Nursery for at least 2 weeks
• You've held at least 1 deliberation meeting
• Your Google Doc is complete with evidence and citations
• You've drafted clear manifesto language (2-3 sentences)
• Major objections have been addressed

What to do:

1. Comment on your proposal: "Ready for progression vote to Merge Room"
2. Admin creates a 10-day vote
3. Need 60%+ approval with minimum 20 participants
4. If successful, you move to the Merge Room!

Final Stage: The Merge Room

You're almost there! This is the final refinement before your proposal becomes official policy.

What Happens:

1. Editorial Board Review - 5 elected community members review your proposal for:
   • Quality and completeness
   • Consistency with existing manifesto
   • Legal and technical feasibility
   • Clarity of language
2. Final Wordsmithing - Work with editorial team to perfect the exact wording
3. Amendments - Community can suggest line-by-line changes
4. Final Checks - Legal review, cross-references, formatting

Ratification Vote:

• 14-day voting period
• Requires 70%+ supermajority
• Requires minimum 30 participants
• This is the final, binding vote

If Ratified:

🎉 Success! Your proposal becomes official Participate UK policy:

• Text is merged into the Master Manifesto Document
• Published as an official policy page on the website
• Announced to the entire community
• You and co-authors are credited in the manifesto
• Referenced in campaigns and materials

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👥 How to Contribute (Without Submitting Your Own Idea)

Not ready to submit your own proposal? There are many ways to contribute:

1. Endorse Ideas You Like

• Browse the Incubator
• Click the "Endorse" button on proposals you support
• This helps good ideas progress to the Nursery

2. Comment and Discuss

• Ask questions on proposals
• Suggest improvements
• Share relevant research or examples
• Challenge assumptions constructively

3. Join as Co-Author

• Find proposals in the Nursery you're interested in
• Open the Google Doc and start contributing
• Add evidence, refine language, structure arguments
• You'll be credited as co-author if ratified

4. Attend Deliberation Meetings

• Check the "Deliberation Sessions" in the Nursery phase
• Register for meetings on topics you care about
• Participate in structured discussions
• Help proposals improve through collective wisdom

5. Vote on Proposals

• Every progression requires a community vote
• Your vote determines what moves forward
• Read proposals carefully before voting
• Vote based on quality and alignment with our values

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📋 Tips for Success

For Idea Sponsors:

• Start focused - One clear idea is better than multiple vague ones
• Be open to feedback - Your idea will improve through community input
• Respond promptly - Active engagement helps build momentum
• Build relationships - Connect with others interested in your topic
• Be patient - The process takes time, but that ensures quality
• Invite co-authors - Don't try to do it all alone
• Attend meetings - Face-to-face discussion builds understanding
• Use evidence - Real-world examples and research strengthen proposals

For Contributors:

• Be constructive - Critique ideas, not people
• Ask questions - Seek to understand before judging
• Share expertise - Your knowledge can strengthen proposals
• Vote thoughtfully - Read proposals fully before voting
• Respect the process - Trust the staged approach to quality

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🎯 What Makes a Good Proposal?

The best proposals that make it through to ratification tend to have these qualities:

Clear and Specific

• Concrete, actionable idea (not vague aspirations)
• Specific enough to implement
• Clear about what will change

Well-Evidenced

• Real-world examples of similar ideas working
• Research and data supporting the approach
• Case studies from other countries or contexts

Addresses Concerns

• Anticipates objections and responds to them
• Acknowledges potential challenges
• Explains how implementation would work

Aligned with Our Values

• Advances democratic participation
• Empowers ordinary people
• Challenges elite capture
• Builds deliberative culture

Collaboratively Developed

• Multiple contributors and perspectives
• Refined through discussion and debate
• Tested in deliberation meetings
• Incorporates diverse feedback

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the process take?

Typically 6-10 weeks from initial idea to ratified policy. This might seem long, but it ensures quality and genuine democratic deliberation.

Can I submit multiple ideas?

Yes! But we recommend focusing on one at a time, especially for your first. Developing proposals well requires time and attention.

What if my idea doesn't get enough endorsements?

That's okay! Not every idea will progress, and that's part of democracy. You can refine it based on feedback and try again, or contribute to other proposals instead.

Do I need to be an expert?

No! Lived experience and fresh perspectives are just as valuable as expertise. If you need research help, ask the community - others will contribute evidence and expertise.

What if I disagree with a proposal?

Constructive disagreement is welcome! Comment with your concerns, suggest improvements, or vote against progression if you think it's not ready. The Editorial Board also reviews for quality.

Can proposals be rejected?

Yes. Proposals can fail votes at any stage, or be blocked by the Editorial Board if they have serious issues (legal problems, inconsistency with core values, poor quality despite feedback). This maintains standards.

What happens to rejected proposals?

They're moved to an archive. You can learn from the feedback, significantly revise, and resubmit as a new proposal.

How is the Editorial Board chosen?

The 5-member Editorial Board is elected annually by the Participate UK community. Nominations and voting happen through this platform.

Can ratified proposals be changed later?

Yes, but it requires a new proposal going through the full process to amend existing manifesto text. This ensures changes are also democratically deliberated.

Where can I see the final manifesto?

The Master Manifesto Document is maintained in Google Drive and published on our website. Each ratified proposal becomes a section with full credit to authors.

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📞 Need Help?

We're here to support you through the process:

• Stuck on something? Comment on your proposal asking for help
• Technical issues? Contact admins via the platform
• Want guidance? Attend an onboarding meeting (check Nursery meetings)
• Questions about the process? Ask in the Democratic Reform Forum assembly

Remember: This is a collaborative process. No one expects you to figure it all out alone. The community is here to help!

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🎉 Ready to Start?

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This guide was created by the Participate UK community. Last updated: 18 May 2026