Answer:
In democracies, citizens are accorded an opportunity to influence public policy through active participation in the public decision-making process. It is important to involve citizens in public decisions to ensure consensus and successful implementation of the decisions. Citizen participation creates a sense of ownership among the public with regard to the policy, translating to a unity of purpose and action.
Since public policies have a direct impact on the citizens, it is rational to facilitate their participation. Citizens can participate in developing and influencing public policy by:
Lobbying their representatives to support or reject policies that are deemed destructive or oppressive
Polling or participating in elections/referendums aimed at instituting, changing, or withdrawing certain aspects of public policy
Holding peaceful demonstrations, protest marches, or picketing to express their displeasure at proposals deemed detrimental to the public
Participating in local public meetings with an aim of exchanging ideas to inform appropriate decision making
Explanation:
