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The article organizes the diversity in deliberative democracy theory. Two ideal-types are distinguished. Type one deliberation is founded upon the Habermasian logic of communicative action and focuses upon rationality and deliberative intent, distinguishes communicative and strategic action, and has a procedural component. Type one deliberation seeks to obtain understanding or consensus. Type two deliberation focuses on flexibility in discourse, emphasizes outcomes versus process, and focuses on eliminating constraints on normative ideals.