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Categories of
Civic Engagement

Types of Civic Engagement
Learn about the categories of civic engagement and discover different ways to be civically engaged.

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Introduction

Civic engagement can take many forms and can encompass a wide range of activities. Learn more about the meaningful ways people can be civically engaged below.

Measures of Civic Engagement

This chart divides civic engagement into three categories: civic, electoral, and political voice. It was developed by the Center for Information & Research on Civil Learning & Engagement at Tufts University.

Next Up:

CIVICALLY ENGAGED AMERICANS

CLOSE-UP

Review case studies of impactful, lesser-known civically engaged Americans from the past.

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RECAP: CIVICALLY ENGAGED AMERICANS

ACTIVITY

Discuss what you've learned through your assignment on civically engaged Americans.

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CIVICALLY ENGAGED STUDENTS

WATCH

Hear from students about how they have become civically active.

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See all activities  > 
Civic
  • Community problem solving
     
  • Regular volunteering for a non-electoral organization
     
  • Active membership in a group
     
  • Participation in a fundraising run/walk/ride
     
  • Other fundraising for charity
     
  • Run for political office
     
  • Symbolic non-participation
Electoral
  • Regular voting
     
  • Persuading others to vote
     
  • Displaying buttons, signs, stickers
     
  • Campaign contributions
     
  • Volunteering for candidate or political organizations
     
  • Registering voters
  • Contacting officials
     
  • Contacting the print media
     
  • Contacting the broadcast media
     
  • Protesting
     
  • Email petitions
     
  • Written petitions and canvassing
     
  • Boycotting
Political Voice

Source: Scott Keeter, et al., “The Civic and Political Health of the Nation: A Generational Portrait,” unpublished manuscript, 2002.

Discuss

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  1. Consider the three categories of civic engagement outlined in this chart. Do you think this classification makes sense? How might thinking about civic engagement in this way be useful?
     

  2. Were you surprised to see any of the items on this list? If so, which ones and why?
     

  3. The chart above is not a comprehensive list of ways to be civically engaged. In what other ways can people choose to be civically active?
     

  4. Now that we have considered a broad range of types of civic involvement, try to think of other people you would consider “civically engaged.” Who can you think of?

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