Abstract Despite a great deal of popular rhetoric and scholarly research, there is no universal agreement on which categories of behaviors constitute civic engagement or public participation in the policy process. This paper showcases various definitions, arguing for a more holistic understanding of the phenomena in popular and scientific literature and discussions. Afterward, the research explores impediments to public participation in one area of policy, public budgeting. The paper concludes by discussing some optimistic happenings that have begun to unfold in this arena
