In democracies,
citizens are accorded an opportunity to influence public policy through active participation in
the public decision-making process. It is important to involve citizens in public decisions to
ensure consensus and successful implementation of the decisions. Citizen participation creates a
sense of ownership among the public with regard to the policy, translating to a unity of purpose
and action.
Since public policies have a direct impact on the citizens, it is
rational to facilitate their participation. Citizens can participate in developing and
influencing public policy by:
- Lobbying their representatives to
support or reject policies that are deemed destructive or oppressive - Polling or participating in elections/referendums aimed at instituting, changing, or
withdrawing certain aspects of public policy - Holding peaceful
demonstrations, protest marches, or picketing to express their displeasure at proposals deemed
detrimental to the public - Participating in local public meetings with an
aim of exchanging ideas to inform appropriate decision making
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