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.
100% polyester will not shrink in the dryer. More Info: Polyester is a man-made fabric designed to resist wrinkles, shrinking, and stretching so it is unlikely that a 100% polyester garment will shrink when washed and dried. Polyester is often blended with other materials, such as cotton, which may make a garment more susceptible to shrinking depending on the ratio of cotton to polyester.