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.
There is only one type of rayon used in clothing. It is in the fabric construction. Knit fabrics will display more expansion (grow) than woven fabrics. The tightness of the yarn used to make the fabric, number of twists per inch, can also effect shrinkage and stretch. A good practice is to dry clean rayon fabrics to minimize the effects of water washing.