political participation
Exercising democratic rights
Political participation encompasses the ways citizens engage with government and civic life.
Voting is the most common form, but it includes running for office, contacting representatives, attending town halls, donating to campaigns, signing petitions, protesting, and community organizing.
The term covers both conventional activities She encouraged political participation among young voters and unconventional ones like civil disobedience.
Advocating to decision-makers
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- petitioningFormally requesting action
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
hearing · interest group · stakeholder · public comment · think tank · watchdog · civic organization · letter campaign
Public expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- marchRhythmic group walk
- rallyGathering for a cause
- sit-inProtest by remaining seated
boycott · civil disobedience · picketing · strike · petition · direct action · nonviolent resistance · solidarity
Voting document
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- electorateEligible voting body
- turnoutNumber attending an event
registration · polling · precinct · enfranchisement · disenfranchisement · absentee · voter ID · electoral roll
Systematically putting in order
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- door-to-doorDirectly between residences
- townhallLocal governance headquarters
- community meetingPublic local assembly
volunteerism · outreach · engagement · empowerment · bottom-up · neighborhood · localism · phone banking
Organized effort toward goal
- candidatePerson seeking selection
- primaryChief in importance
- caucusParty selection meeting
- debateFormal argument on issues
incumbent · platform · constituency · partisan · midterm · nomination · endorsement · superdelegate
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- petitioningFormally requesting action
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
testimony · hearing · interest group · stakeholder · public comment · think tank · watchdog · civic organization · letter campaign · op-ed
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- marchRhythmic group walk
- rallyGathering for a cause
sit-in · boycott · civil disobedience · picketing · strike · petition · direct action · nonviolent resistance · solidarity · hunger strike
ballot
Voting document
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- electorateEligible voting body
turnout · registration · polling · precinct · enfranchisement · disenfranchisement · absentee · voter ID · electoral roll · ballot box
organizing
Systematically putting in order
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- door-to-doorDirectly between residences
- townhallLocal governance headquarters
community meeting · volunteerism · outreach · engagement · empowerment · bottom-up · neighborhood · localism · phone banking · voter drive
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
debate · incumbent · platform · constituency · partisan · midterm · nomination · endorsement · superdelegate · swing voter
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- democracyvote, voting, election, elections, ballot
- civic dutiestaxes, jury duty, paying taxes, voting, tax payment
- rightscivil liberties, constitutional rights, right, rights, human rights
- German PoliticsBundesrat, CSU, Nazi Party, Greens, federal republic
- political sciencevoting behavior, international relations, authoritarianism, public opinion, constitutionalism
political participationpolitical apathy
Indifference to governance
voter apathy · abstention · absenteeism · disengagement · nonparticipation
political participationdisenfranchisement
Removal of voting rights
voter suppression · voicelessness · political repression · silencing · powerlessness
policy, politics, political, bipartisan, politician, participant, participate, policies, participation