civic Participation

Civic Participation is that in which the citizens participate in the decision-making process of the local, state or country’s government. In other words, in order for a modern city or country to provide its population with the best services and opportunities, it must have open and receptive governments, which are willing to listen to what its citizens have to say in order to improve politics and manage public matters.

That is Civic Participation, the essential involvement of all men and women that want to participate in the issues that affect them by providing their views, concerns and solutions.

Civic Participation is necessary in a modern democracy. That is why, it is essential to promote the control of politicians, to transmit the citizens preferences, ease conflicts, support agreements, and make political decisions less expensive.

Participation promotes the type of citizen who is interested in being informed about political issues, working with others, and respecting those who are different, which reinforces social bonds among human beings and fosters cross-cultural understanding.

Men and women’s input in public matters is a giant step from a democracy  of representatives to a democracy with civic participation.

This proposal leads to a higher civic involvement in public matters (not only during elections), giving view points and deciding, through associations, participating in Councils, public hearings, polls and referendums, etc.

There are many forms of public participation at a local level that can get us closer to that objective: drafting of regulations for civic participation, creating town councils, the Ombudsman, the right of access to information, popular initiatives, referendum; consulting public opinion, service user committees, applying a determined percentage of budgets to citizen’s chosen purposes through consultation, Participatory Budget, and many others.

Citizen’s Participation … 

• It is spontaneous (but may also be convened by institutions, hospitals, political parties, organizations, media …).

• It is altruistic (but may be interested, as the choosing of party through voting).

• It is timely and/or sporadic (it does not express an ongoing commitment. It does not look so much for a transformation as much as a remedy of the moment).
• It is disorganized (or may be organized, if it is not individual)
• In many cases it is not through organizations.
• Without training, nor quality criteria.

Examples of Civil Participation 

• Donating Blood
• Voting
• Participate in public demonstrations
• Take you neighbor shopping
• Participate in the PTA’s, neighbor Associations
• Write communications to the director of a media
• Denounce for example malpractice or a product before the consumers association
• Recycle waste
• Become a member of a local Board or civic participation organizations
• Donations of money or toys
• Remove tar from beaches, etc.

… And participate as a Volunteer in an organization …