civic engagement
Active public participation
Civic engagement is participation in the public life of a community or nation.
It encompasses voting, attending town meetings, volunteering, contacting elected officials, and organizing around issues.
The term implies active citizenship beyond private concerns: The university requires a civic engagement course.
Civic engagement can range from jury duty to protest marches—any activity aimed at shaping collective life.
Public expression of disapproval
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- marchRhythmic group walk
rally · petition · lobbying · boycott · social justice · movement · sit-in · picketing
Formally registering a choice
- electionOrganized public voting
- ballotVoting document
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
electorate · constituency · representation · legislature · parliament · senate · governance · policy
Giving service without pay
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
mentorship · outreach · humanitarian · donation · fundraising · pro bono · aid · assistance
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
march · rally · petition · lobbying · boycott · social justice · movement · sit-in · picketing · solidarity
voting
Formally registering a choice
- electionOrganized public voting
- ballotVoting document
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
suffrage · electorate · constituency · representation · legislature · parliament · senate · governance · policy · debate
volunteering
Giving service without pay
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- charityVoluntary aid for others
philanthropy · mentorship · outreach · humanitarian · donation · fundraising · pro bono · aid · assistance · food bank
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- collegecampus, courses, application, dorms, dorm room
- democracyvote, voting, election, elections, ballot
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- social sciencessociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, political science
civic engagementdisengagement
Withdrawal from involvement
non-participation · abstention · non-voting · passivity · inaction
civic engagementisolation
Complete separation from others
social isolation · atomization · self-absorption · insularity · social withdrawal
civic engagementapathy
Absence of feeling
political apathy · indifference · disaffection · alienation · cynicism
civil, engage, engaged, engaging, civic, engagement, civilian, civilization, uncivil