Political participation- a set of actions through which ordinary members (citizens, groups of people, public organizations, etc.) of any political system influence or try to influence the results of its activities, the policy of the state. In democratic countries, opportunities for political participation are wider. In non-democratic countries, these opportunities are often limited and suppressed.

We can distinguish forms (levels) of political participation:

• reaction (positive or negative) to impulses emanating from the political system, from its institutions or their representatives, not related to the need for high human activity; occasional participation in politics. An example is the dissatisfaction of the country's citizens due to the state's refusal to increase pensions;
• activities related to the delegation of powers: participation in elections (local or state level, referendums, etc. This form of political participation involves only periodic manifestation of activity - on election days;
• participation in political and related activities public organizations: parties, pressure groups, trade unions, youth political associations, etc. In in this case citizens regularly take part in activities political parties, movements;
• performing political functions within state institutions, including the media;
• professional, leadership political and ideological activities. This form of political participation concerns professional politicians.

The main ways of political participation can be identified:

• rally - a meeting of citizens in a pre-agreed place with political slogans, posters, etc.;
• picketing - a meeting of citizens near government buildings state power with political demands. Single picketing stands out in particular;
• procession - the movement of citizens along a predetermined route with political slogans, etc. In order to ensure security, the organizing committee must notify local authorities about processions, rallies, pickets (except for single ones);
• citizens' appeal to government authorities. The authority must respond to any citizen’s appeal within 30 days;
• participation in voting. It is a direct way of political participation in which residents directly determine the fate of their country.

In any society, political passivity occurs to a greater or lesser extent. It can be expressed in avoidance of any public and government affairs. The extreme form of political passivity is absenteeism- manifestation of indifferent attitude of people towards political life society. In this case, the person is not interested in politics even at the level small group. The growth of absenteeism may indicate a crisis in the system of political relations. Political apathy is the result of an individual's inability or impossibility to influence the course of political events, political process.

Worksheet on the topic: Citizen participation in political life.

Task 1 Using the Constitution of the Russian Federation, answer the questions.

Excerpts from the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Article 31

Citizens Russian Federation have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, to hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations, processions and picketing.

Article 32

1. Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to participate in the management of state affairs, both directly and through their representatives. 2. Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to elect and be elected to government bodies and local government bodies, as well as to participate in a referendum. 3. Citizens declared incompetent by a court, as well as those held in prison by a court sentence, do not have the right to elect or be elected. 4. Citizens of the Russian Federation have equal access to public service. 5. Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to participate in the administration of justice

Questions

Can the average citizen influence politics? If yes, then how?

In our country, is political participation a right or a duty of citizens? Give reasons for your answer

Can you take part in political life? Why?

How can citizens of our country participate in political life?

Task 2 Elections are the procedure for electing someone by voting. (representative participation in political life) . Using the textbook pp. 46-47, complete the diagram.

Suffrage

Task 3. Workshop Determine which principle of electoral law is violated:

1) Men have 2 votes in elections, and women have 1. 2) Each voter receives a ballot on the eve of the election, fills it out at home, and brings it to the polling station on election day. 3) Elections of deputies to the Legislative AssemblyNmulti-stage edges. 4) Pensioners living inNdistrict do not have the right to take part in elections.

Task 4. Using the textbook, write down the restrictions on voting rights.

Task 5. Using additional material fill out the table.

Additional material Referendum: (lat. Referendum) - something that must be communicated. A referendum is a vote of voters on a specific issue of state or public life.National referendum - a referendum held within the entire state territory.Local referendum - voting of citizens on issues of local importance. In our country, the decision to hold a local referendum is made by the local government or at the request of the population. The issue of a referendum is an issue of national importance, affecting the interests of the people, and should not contradict the Constitution or limit the generally recognized rights and freedoms of man and citizen. The decision made in the referendum comes into force from the moment the results of the referendum are published. The referendum is called by the President of the Russian Federation, who sends documents to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with a request for compliance of the referendum with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Referendum participants- referendum participants are citizens of the Russian Federation who, in accordance with the law, have the right to participate in the referendum. The ballot paper accurately reproduces the wording of the question and indicates the answer options - “for” or “against”, under which empty squares are placed. In one of them, a citizen must put a sign when voting. A referendum is considered valid if more than half of the citizens eligible to vote took part in the voting. Participation in a referendum means direct participation in the political life of the country.

Task 6 Work with the textbook section “The right to equal access to public service” and answer the questions.

What is civil service?

What does equal access to public service mean?

How can Russian citizens participate in the administration of justice?

Task 7 Work with the textbook on the points “Appealing to the authorities” and “Other ways to influence the authorities.” Make up 3 questions for each point, the answers to which can be found in the text of the textbook.

Task 8 Make a plan for the item “The meaning of freedom of speech”

Task 9 Using the textbook text, answer the questions

Political extremism is...

Manifestation of political extremism -…..

Bring 3 specific examples manifestationspolitical extremism

The lives of its citizens largely depend on what policies the state pursues, so they are interested in participating in it and expressing their opinions. The right to participate in political life is a sign of a developed society, which ensures that all its members can freely realize their interests. Let's figure out what it includes and how it manifests itself.

Forms of citizen participation in political life

The Constitution of the Russian Federation enshrines the right of all citizens of our country to participate in political life. They can do this either independently or through their representatives. Let's consider these situations.

• elections and referendums

These are forms of participation when each person can directly take part in government affairs and contribute to resolving issues that are important for the whole country.

All adults with legal capacity (that is, over 18 years of age) can participate in elections and referendums. Discrimination is not permitted regarding:

• race;
• nationality;
• gender;
• age;
• position in society;
• education.

Suffrage is not only universal, but also equal and secret, that is, one voter can cast only one vote, and do it secretly from other people.

• civil service

People holding positions in central and local government can directly exercise power, thereby influencing the life and functioning of society.

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• appeals

Citizens who want to draw the attention of the authorities to problems that concern them can personally or collectively contact the authorities with applications, which they are obliged to consider within a certain time frame.

• political parties

Freedom of speech allows citizens to create parties, develop their own programs for solving certain issues and the structure of society in general. If such parties find the support of society, that is, those groups of the population (for example, pensioners, students, etc.), then they can stand as candidates for elections.

• rallies

Freedom of assembly and rallies allows people to organize mass protests that express public protest or a call for something. But there are also limitations. For example, extremist speeches that are extremely apoliticized in nature (against the authorities) that can disrupt public order are prohibited.

What have we learned?

The participation of citizens in political life is necessary so that each person can express his opinion, draw the attention of the state to the most current problems, influence the process of government decision-making. It can be implemented in different forms. For example, citizens can participate in elections, referendums, rallies, and contact authorities. They can also influence the authorities through their representatives, that is, political parties.

(paragraph 6)

Elections

Elections it is the process of electing someone by voting.

Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to participate in the management of state affairs, both directly and through their representatives.

Government management requires high professionalism, so citizens entrust this work to their representatives in legislative bodies. Citizens have the right to decide who will represent their interests in the legislative process.They make this decision in elections (representative democracy).

Basic principles of electoral law in the Russian Federation:

Universal suffrage -this means that it belongs to all citizens over 18 years of age, regardless of their social status, gender, nationality, religion, education, place of residence. The exception is for persons held in places of deprivation of liberty by a court verdict, as well as those recognized by the court as legally incompetent, i.e. mentally incompetent, mental state fully exercise your rights

Equal suffrageEach voter has only one vote.

Direct elections President, deputies State Duma and legislative bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are directly elected by citizens. In the practice of other countries, there are multi-stage elections, when citizens elect electors, and then the electors elect the President. The President of the Russian Federation is elected for a term of 6 years, the State Duma for a term of 5 years

Every citizen, according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, has the right to be elected to government bodies and local government bodies. An exception is established for those persons who cannot participate in elections. In this case, the age limit (restriction) is taken into account:

From 21 years of age - to be elected as a deputy of the State Duma

From 35 years of age, as well as residence in the Russian Federation for at least 10 years (residence qualification) for election as President of the Russian Federation.

There are two main types electoral systems: majoritarian and proportional.

Proportional systemdetermines the rating of political forces, in proportion to which seats in parliament are distributed between these forces. Under such a system, voters vote not for an individual candidate, but for a party, which, depending on total number based on the votes collected, distributes seats in parliament according to the party list. For example, a party received 35% of the votes of all voters, and accordingly it owns 35% of the seats in parliament.

Majoritarian systemassumes that voters vote not for parties, but for specific candidates. Under such a system, a candidate who receives majority . There are also mixed systems.

Referendum

Citizens take direct part in managing the affairs of the state through a referendum.

Referendum is a popular vote on draft laws and other issues of national importance. For example, the current Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted in a referendum in 1993. When holding a referendum, the same principles apply as during the election of deputies.

The main difference between a referendum and an election is that a referendum is used to approve or disapprove of a decision, rather than to vote for candidates running for certain positions or parties. Questions submitted to a referendum must be formulated in such a way that a clear answer “yes” or “no” can be given.

In the Russian Federation, a referendum cannot be held simultaneously with elections, or during a state of emergency or martial law. The referendum is not held in last year powers of the President of the Russian Federation, the State Duma, as well as during the period election campaign, carried out simultaneously throughout the entire territory.

Elections and referendums are the most widespread form of citizen participation in political life.

Other forms of citizen participation in political life:

Right to equal access to public service. Public service is professional activity to ensure the execution of powers of government bodies. In the civil service there are officials (civil servants) holding positions in central and local authorities, in the judiciary, etc.

According to the Constitution, citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to equal access to public service. This means that every citizen can hold any public position without restrictions depending on race, nationality, gender, social origin, property status, place of residence, attitude to religion, beliefs, and membership of public associations. This does not mean that any citizen who wishes can work, for example, in a ministry, regional administration, etc. There is a system of competitions: requirements for professional training, a certain procedure for appointment to government positions.

Russian citizens also have the right to participate inadministration of justice. This right can be exercised by holding positions in court, with appropriate education and work experience, as well as by participating in justice as a juror.

- contacting authoritiesthis is the right to apply personally, as well as send collective appeals to state bodies and local governments. It could beindividual appealabout financial assistance, as well as complaint, those. an appeal by a citizen to restore a right violated by the action or inaction of individuals, organizations, state or self-government bodies. It could be statement , i.e. an appeal by a citizen with a request to exercise his right (for example, to receive a pension). It could also be offer , i.e. this type of appeal that is not associated with a violation of the rights of citizens, but which raises the question of improving the activities of a government body.

The laws of the Russian Federation establish deadlines for resolving issues raised in citizens' appeals.

- participation in meetings, rallies and demonstrationsis also one of the ways to influence the authorities. Citizens can gather to discuss any issues of common interest to them. A mass meeting about pressing issues of the day is called rallies . People often gather at rallies to protest against government policies or the actions of any political forces. The law only allows assemblies that are peaceful and do not threaten violence against other citizens.

IN different countries There is either a notification or permitting procedure for holding rallies, demonstrations, and strikes. In the Russian Federation there is a licensing procedure, i.e. the organizers of the protest action send an application in advance to the local government authority, which gives permission to hold this action. In case of violation of this order, the police have the right to use force against rally participants using special means(rubber batons, water cannons, tear gases).

Freedom of speech

In the Russian Federation there is a right to freedom of speech; for the real implementation of this right, transparency is necessary: ​​people must be able to receive truthful and complete information about the work of government bodies, about the situation in the country, and in the international arena. For this, a condition such as the abolition of censorship is necessary. Censorship - this is a special viewing of newspapers and magazines, literary works, films, texts of radio and television programs intended for release. The censor could deny access to any information. Now there is no censorship. But freedom of speech and press is not absolute. The law prohibits: propaganda of war and violence, incitement to racial, national or religious hatred, slander, and dissemination of false information. Thus, the use of freedom of speech also imposes special responsibilities.

Various political subjects participate in political life, which is changeable and dynamic: people, social groups, ruling elites, etc. When they interact with each other as subjects of politics on the issues of conquest, retention and use of state power, it gives rise to various political processes in society.

Political process- this is a chain of political events and states that change as a result of the interaction of specific political subjects (one political leaders of the government are replaced by others). Political scientists classify political processes in different ways. By scale: internal political And foreign policy processes. Internal political processes can develop at the national, regional, local levels (for example, the electoral process). And according to their significance for society, they are divided into basic and private.

The basic political process characterizes the operation of all political power as a mechanism for the formation and implementation of political power. It determines the content of private processes: economic-political, political-legal, cultural-political, etc.

Both basic and private processes are characterized by:

A) representing interests to government agencies

B) decision making

B) implementation of decisions

The political process aims to solve a political problem. For example, the state of the education system in the country as a whole. These are the kinds of issues that are on the political agenda. Their decision becomes object - goal of the political process which leads to certain results. However, a political one can only take place if there is subjects - participants in the process. These include initiators and executors.

Initiators of political processes in a democratic society there are citizens, interest groups, political parties and movements, trade unions, etc. The solution to political problems belongs performers- first of all government institutions and authorized officials, as well as people specially appointed for this purpose from non-governmental bodies.

The executors of the political process choose tools, methods and resources for its implementation. Resources can be knowledge, science, technical and financial means, public opinion, etc.

Result of the political process largely depends on a combination of internal and external factors. To the number internal factors refers, for example, to the competence and ability of the authorities to correctly assess the situation, select appropriate means and methods, and achieve implementation decisions made in strict accordance with the rules of law. Within the framework of political processes, when solving problems, various interests of social groups intersect, sometimes causing intractable contradictions and conflicts.

Political processes, from the point of view of publicity of decision-making, are also divided into open and hidden (shadow).

When open political process the interests of groups and citizens are revealed in party programs, in voting in elections, etc. In the hidden, the political process is characterized by closedness and lack of control of government decisions. They are adopted by officials and authorities under the influence of unrecognized structures.

Political participation– these are the actions of a citizen with the aim of influencing the adoption and implementation of government decisions, the selection of representatives to government institutions. This concept characterizes the involvement of members of a given society in the political process.

The scope of possible participation is determined by political rights and freedoms. In a democratic society, these include: the right to elect and be elected to government bodies, the right to participate in government affairs directly and through a representative, etc. But the exercise of these political rights may be limited, for example, the right to gather for rallies or demonstrations - by indicating that they must take place without weapons, peacefully, after prior notification to the authorities. And it is prohibited, for example, the organization of parties, the program

which is a violent change of the constitutional system. Such prohibitions are introduced on the basis of the security of the individual, society, and state.

Political participation happens mediocre(sequential) and direct(direct).

Direct participation is carried out through elected representatives. Direct participation is the influence of a citizen on the authorities without intermediaries. It manifests itself in the following forms:

Citizens' reactions to impulses emanating from the political system

Periodic participation in activities related to the election of representatives, with the transfer of decision-making powers to them

Participation of citizens in the activities of political parties, socio-political organizations and movements

Influencing political processes through appeals and letters, meetings with politicians

Direct action by citizens

Activities of political leaders

Forms of political activity can be group, mass and individual. The most developed and important form of political participation is democratic elections. This is a necessary minimum guaranteed by the constitutions. political activity. Within the framework of the institution of elections, each citizen performs his individual action by voting for a party, candidate or political leader. Thus, it directly affects the composition of representatives, and therefore political course. Elections are accompanied by referendums - voting on legislative or other issues.

Political participation can be permanent (participation in a party), periodic (participation in elections), or one-time (applying to authorities).

But some residents still try to avoid participating in politics. This position, in practice, is called absenteeism.

Political participation is sometimes frustrating because rational whether this political action or irrational. Rational - actions that are conscious and planned, with an understanding of means and goals, and irrational - actions that motivate mainly emotional state people (irritation, indifference, etc.).

Political culture assumes: versatile political knowledge, orientation in life to the rules of a democratic society, mastery of these rules.

Political knowledge is a person's knowledge of politics, political system, about various political ideologies, about its institutions and procedures through which citizen participation in the political process is ensured. Knowledge can be presented as everyday or scientific. Scientific knowledge are the result of the study of political science, and everyday ones can be represented, for example, by the vision of a democratic regime as unlimited possibilities to do whatever you want.

Political values is a person’s idea of ​​the ideals and values ​​of a reasonable or desirable social order. They are formed under the influence of knowledge about politics, personal and emotional attitude to political phenomena. The weakness of citizens' political positions is one of the reasons that makes it difficult to achieve consensus in society.

Methods of practical political action are patterns and rules of political behavior that determine how one can and how one should act. Many scientists call them models of citizen political participation, because any form of citizen participation involves analysis and assessment from the standpoint of certain requirements of election programs and personal qualities for power. Political consciousness predetermines political behavior. Democratic political culture is manifested in real ways in political behavior.

Thus, the democratic type of political culture has a pronounced humanistic orientation; it embodies the best examples of the political experience of many countries of the world.