The activities of the individual or a collection (group) of individual to as part of the political process, for the good of the community; state or government is civic participation.  Many believe that participation is the price we pay to live in a community.  

The civic participation may be as simple as cleaning up litter along the roadside in your area or it may be a bigger role such as running for local office.   Many see the rise in volunteerism (62.8 million adults volunteered more than 8 billion hours) as support for the need to participate and have an active role in the government process.  

The voter participation percentage is often called out as a lack of civic participation in the US.  The Obama election stood in stark contrast (at nearly 68%) to the average of 48% turnout.  In other countries like Chile voter turnout is over 90%.  Since the vote is consider the voice of the people, this lack of unified civic participation often leads people frustrated with the results.  

There are many ways you can actively pursue civic participation.  Volunteering is certainly a positive opportunity to be engaged in the community.  This can be tutoring children, helping senior citizens with home repairs or planting a community garden.  There are more structured forms of participation such as volunteering as part of community reclaiming projects, or running for town council.  

The local political system relies upon the engagement of the community; simple processes like voter registration and ballot collection are done by civic participation.  Zoning decisions and local regulations are decided by community and local board votes.  In many communities local offices run unopposed for a lack of civic participation.  

In other cases, civic participation can focus less on the political nature of the community and more on the quality of life the politics is trying to support.  This can be attending community functions, such as local festivals and fund raisers.  This can be the active participation in charitable causes and events that are designed to unite the community for greater good. Many communities are forming civic participation groups to rebuild the community, strengthen the infrastructure and support one another.  

There are more transient needs for political engagement or civic participation.  Civic participation can be used to unify a community in times of disaster and hardship.  Tornados and hurricanes often require the active civic participation of the entire community to restore functions, clear roads and provide rescue for victims.  House fires or other personal disasters are times when the community is called on to participate in helping out those in need.  

There is something nearly everyone can do to be engaged in the community.  Recycle, vote, run in the local 5k, or run for Mayor.  There is no limit to the power of civic participation, collaborative spirit and collective energy.  This is the way the US was founded, by individual participation and action.  This is the way the US can fix many of its existing issues, by rolling up shirt sleeves, and digging in.