Citizen policy juries, selected by random sampling of the electorate, with access to experts making public recommendations on policy.

Even if they don't have formal authority to legislate or execute policy, politicians enacting laws in conflict with those recommendations would have to at least explain why.

Some Australian experiences: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2010/08/10/behind-the-sce... http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/jury-still-out-but... http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/cit...