It means you get involved. Technically, our local forms of government are not participatory democracies. Officially, participatory democracy is direct democracy, in the sense that all citizens are actively involved in all important decisions.
It shouldn't if washed with gentle care. Rayon is a cellulose fabric and like most cellulose fabrics, it may shrink when washed. If the manufacturer has indicated the garment should be dry cleaned only, do not push your luck. If it is hand-washable though, you can use the gentle cycle on your washing machine and Woolite to get the job done.
Rayon can be made by either the viscose process or the cuprammonium process; both produce fiber classified by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as rayon. In the viscose process purified cellulose is treated with sodium hydroxide, then with carbon disulfide, to form a viscous yellow liquid called viscose.