--Select Document-- What is citizenship?What is a citizen?Why is active citizenship important in a democracy?How can citizens participate in a democracy?How can citizens impact on the law-making process in South Africa? What is advocacy?

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Active Citizenship
Why is active citizenship important in a democracy?
The viability and success of democracy depends on citizen participation:

• Citizen participation is critical to representation: If citizens do not participate in elections, for example, it would be impossible to constitute a democratic government. In some countries, citizens are legally obliged to vote in elections.

• Citizen participation is essential for transparency and accountability: If citizens merely vote and show no further interest in the affairs of the state, democracy could easily by threatened by a lack of transparency and accountability. Citizen participation in governance between elections is essential to ensure that leaders do not abuse their powers and that the interests of citizens are advanced.

• Citizen participation is vital for a government in touch with its people: It enhances the quality of democratic governance by constantly bringing diverse needs, concerns, views and perspectives into the decision-making process. This helps to inform government about what citizens wish to see happening in their country.

• Citizen participation enhances implementation: Citizens do not only strengthen democracy by engaging with formal law-making or policy development. Citizen participation may also take place through local and community structures, such as school governing bodies or community-policing forums. The planning, management and implementation of local initiatives can similarly benefit from the active involvement of citizens through consultative and co-operative processes.

• Citizens also act outside of government in their own public space.