citizen power
Democracy from below
Citizen power is the capacity of ordinary people to influence government decisions and public policy through collective action.
The term gained prominence in the 1960s civil rights and community organizing movements, describing grassroots efforts to challenge institutional authority: Citizen power transformed the neighborhood council into a real force at city hall.
It emphasizes democratic participation beyond voting—through protest, advocacy, and direct engagement with decision-makers.
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- grassroots movementCitizen-led collective action campaign
- democracyRule by the people
- activismDirect effort for reform
- direct actionConfrontational political tactics
voting · voter turnout · referendum · town hall meeting · protest · movement · participation · sovereignty · collective · voice · ballot · assembly · public square · mobilization · uprising · community organizing · engagement · autonomy
citizen powerautocracy
Rule by one
oligarchy · tyranny · authoritarianism · dictatorship · plutocracy
citizen powerdisenfranchisement
Removal of voting rights
subjugation · oppression · voter suppression · authoritarianism · tyranny
citizen powerdivine right
God-granted ruling authority
hereditary rule · rule by decree · despotism · absolutism · totalitarianism
citizen, power, citizens, citizenship, citizenry, city, civic, civil, civilian