Civic Engagement and Public Participation

Study Notes

Public participation means taking part in activities or events with others, such as standing for elections, attending community meetings, joining civil or political organizations, voting, paying taxes, and protesting or petitioning.
Public participation is important because it:
- Ensures leaders do not abuse their powers
- Addresses the public's needs and concerns
- Informs government about people's needs and concerns
- Helps to get things done

A petition is a written document that people sign to show support for a request or change.
It is a formal request to the government to take action on a particular matter.

Governance refers to the way a country is controlled or managed by its leaders.
In South Africa, governance is based on a system of co-operative governance, where various levels of government work together.
Good governance:
- Allows participation and provides feedback to the people
- Is transparent and open to the public
- Delivers basic human rights
- Is efficient and effective
- Produces results
- Protects the environment
- Is accountable for its actions and decisions

Representation means that people elect others to speak on their behalf.
There are two types of representation:
- Proportional representation: parties get seats in parliament based on the percentage of votes they receive
- Constituency-based representation: a country is divided into voting areas, and each area is represented by one member of a party's choice

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is a constitutional democracy with three structures of government: national, provincial, and local.
The RSA is a sovereign, democratic state divided into nine provinces, each with its own provincial legislature.
The national government consists of:
- The National Assembly: the supreme law-making body in the RSA
- The Cabinet: makes policies for the National Government
- Parliament: consists of two Houses - the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
Provincial governments:
- Are bound by national laws and policies
- Can develop their own laws and policies within the national framework
Local governments:
- Consist of municipalities
- Objectives include providing democratic and accountable government, ensuring service provision, and promoting social and economic development