This paper has two main goals. The first is theoretical and methodological and the second is empirical. The first task refers to the establishment of a deliberation concept and to its dimensions taking into consideration the initial proposals of Habermas (1962) and Cohen (1989), but also further critical contributions (Macedo, 1999; Warren, 2002; Dryzek: 2000; Fishkin e Laslett: 2003; Chambers: 2003; Gutman e Thompson, 2004; Mansbridge et al., 2006). Each dimension is operationalized through a set of indicators. With the second goal of empirical analysis we intend to collect citizens and MPs attitudes in two distinct moments, before and after the rising of the economic crisis (2008 and 2013). In these two moments were applied a survey questionnaire with the same indicators referred above. Regarding citizen’s attitudes towards deliberation, the survey questionnaire was applied to a representative sample of the population of mainland Portugal. The same questionnaire was applied to all members of the Portuguese parliament in two different legislatures. The virtues of deliberation for the quality of democracy have been highlighted by several authors. However, there has been less emphasized the need for supportive attitudes of citizens and their representatives to the principles, rules and values that support democratic deliberation. In a context of crisis, like we live in Portugal and in Europe, there is a greater need for political consensus to implement reforms. For this consensus will contribute the implementation of deliberation processes at various levels of political life, particularly in national parliaments. The empirical results obtained in 2008 pointed to a broad support of citizens and parliamentarians for the dimensions of democratic deliberation. The question is whether this support remains or has been changed in 2013 when the crisis hit countries like Portugal and many reforms are still under discussion and seeking broad consensus.

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Deliberação democrática, participação política, atitudes políticas, valores democráticos