What is civic participation?
Civic participation means taking part in the life of your community and country. It is how citizens help make decisions, solve problems and hold leaders accountable.
You might think government is something that only happens far away, in Ottawa or Washington. But democracy depends on ordinary people, including young people, getting involved.
How democracy works
In a democracy, power comes from the people. There are two main kinds.
- Direct democracy: citizens vote on decisions themselves. Ancient Athens worked like this for its male citizens. Today, direct democracy happens in a referendum, when citizens vote on a specific question, such as whether to change a law.
- Representative democracy: citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them. Canada and the United States are representative democracies. Representatives are expected to listen to the people who elected them.
Elections
An election is an organized vote to choose leaders. Fair elections in a democracy share key features:
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Secret ballot | Nobody can pressure or punish you for your vote. |
| Regular elections | Leaders must return to voters on a schedule. |
| Free choice | More than one candidate or party can run. |
| Universal suffrage | All adult citizens have the right to vote. |
| Independent officials | Elections Canada and U.S. election officials run elections fairly. |
| Peaceful transfer of power | Losers accept the result and leave office. |
Canada has elections at the federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal levels. The United States has federal, state and local elections. In both countries, citizens must be at least 18 to vote in national elections.
Ways to participate
Voting is important, but it’s only one way to take part.
| Action | Example |
|---|---|
| Staying informed | reading reliable news, learning about issues |
| Contacting representatives | writing a letter or email to a mayor or member of Parliament or Congress |
| Petitions | collecting signatures to ask for a crosswalk near your school |
| Public meetings | speaking at a city council or school board meeting |
| Volunteering | helping at a food bank or community cleanup |
| Advocacy | raising awareness about an issue you care about |
| Peaceful protest | joining a march or rally |
| Joining groups | student council, youth councils, clubs |
| Serving on a jury | adults help decide court cases |
A petition is a written request signed by many people. Petitions show leaders how many people care about an issue. In Canada, citizens can even sign official electronic petitions to the House of Commons.
Young people and civic life
You don’t have to be 18 to make a difference. Students can:
- run for student council or vote in school elections
- join a youth advisory council in their town
- take part in mock elections; in Canada, Student Vote runs these in schools during real elections
- write to leaders about issues like climate, safety or parks
- organize a fundraiser or awareness campaign
Many big changes started with young people speaking up.
Rights that make participation possible
Civic participation is protected by basic freedoms, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. In Canada these are protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; in the United States, in the First Amendment. These freedoms have limits. You can’t, for example, spread threats or block an ambulance during a protest.
Being an informed citizen
Good decisions need good information. Before you take a position:
- Learn the facts from reliable sources.
- Listen to different points of view.
- Think about who will be affected.
- Decide what you believe and why.
- Share your view respectfully.
Try it yourself
- Find out who represents your area at the local, provincial or state, and national levels.
- Choose a problem in your school or community. Plan three ways to take civic action.
- Write a short, polite letter to a representative about an issue you care about.
- Hold a class debate and vote on a school issue.
Quick recap
- Civic participation means taking part in community and national life.
- In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives.
- Fair elections use secret ballots and peaceful transfers of power.
- Citizens participate by voting, petitioning, volunteering, advocating and more.
- Young people can participate in many ways before they can vote.