Citizenship |
Civics - is the study of what it means to be a citizen, as well as the rights and duties required. It is also the study of duties of citizens.
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Being a citizen of the United States Involves rights, duties, and responsibilities. By fulfilling these, citizens contribute to the common good for all citizens. Each individual citizen plays has a social role that changes, overlaps, and sometimes conflicts. One thing is clear, however, civic responsibility supports the basic values that unite American society.
Natural Born Citizen - If you were born in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or American Samoa, you are a citizen of the Untied States, it does not matter if your parents are not American citizens. If at least one of your parents was an American citizen when you were born, you're automatically a U.S. citizen (doesn't matter where you were born as long as at least one of your parents was a U.S. citizen.
A naturalized citizen - This means you have gone through the four step legal process of becoming a United States citizen.
A naturalized citizen - This means you have gone through the four step legal process of becoming a United States citizen.
Process of becoming a Naturalized Citizen
5 Requirements
-Must be 18 years or older
-Be a legal resident of the U.S. for at least 5 years
-Be a person of good moral character who has not been convicted of certain crimes.
-have a basic knowledge of US history and government
-Be able to read, write, and speak English
Steps in the naturalization process
-Fill out an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
-Interview with an official from the US Citiz'p & Immigration Services
-Complete and pass the citizenship examination
-Attend a citizenship ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance
5 Requirements
-Must be 18 years or older
-Be a legal resident of the U.S. for at least 5 years
-Be a person of good moral character who has not been convicted of certain crimes.
-have a basic knowledge of US history and government
-Be able to read, write, and speak English
Steps in the naturalization process
-Fill out an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
-Interview with an official from the US Citiz'p & Immigration Services
-Complete and pass the citizenship examination
-Attend a citizenship ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance
The Power of the Citizens
-The U.S. Constitution ensures that the government is based on the "consent of the people."
-the gov't has the right to make laws, improve and build roads, collect taxes, make agreements with foreign nations.
-All of this is determined by the right of the citizens to decide through their elected representatives what the government can and cannot do.
-the gov't has the right to make laws, improve and build roads, collect taxes, make agreements with foreign nations.
-All of this is determined by the right of the citizens to decide through their elected representatives what the government can and cannot do.
Rights, Duties, & Responsibilities of Citizens
There are certain rights, duties, and responsibilities of being a citizen. For example: It is your right to drive on public roads and park in authorized parking places, it is your duty to observe traffic signals and speed limits, and it is your responsibility to drive in a way that does not endanger others.
Examples of Individual Rights
-right to hold office and vote
-right to say what you think in speech or writing (as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others).
-right to practice your own religion
-right to have a fair trial.
These and other rights are based on the fundamental beliefs and values Americans share: equal respect, freedom, equality, and justice.
Citizens' Rights Are Guaranteed by the Constitution and protected by the Supreme Court.
Examples of Individual Rights
-right to hold office and vote
-right to say what you think in speech or writing (as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others).
-right to practice your own religion
-right to have a fair trial.
These and other rights are based on the fundamental beliefs and values Americans share: equal respect, freedom, equality, and justice.
Citizens' Rights Are Guaranteed by the Constitution and protected by the Supreme Court.
Duties of Citizens
Every citizen must do his/her part in fulfilling duties (REQUIRED)
U.S. citizens have duties to fulfill that citizens of other countries may or may not have, which include:
-obey the laws and its protections
-defend the nation from all enemies
-serve on jury or as a witness in court
-pay taxes to finance the government
-attend school and participate in the educational process
-obey the laws and its protections
-defend the nation from all enemies
-serve on jury or as a witness in court
-pay taxes to finance the government
-attend school and participate in the educational process
Obey the Laws
-the official rules within a society are known as laws.
-Laws are meant to keep us from hurting each other and setting boundaries
-Some laws are created for making and settling disagreements, some laws protect citizens' rights.
Defend the Nation
- The United States maintains armed services even during
peacetime to defend ourselves in case of an attack and
help other countries protect themselves.
-At the age of 18 you may volunteer to serve in the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and the Space Force.
-Men must register with the selective service when they
turn 18 years old.
-Registration does not mean they will be called to serve, but
they may be called to serve in a national crises.
-One may request to be registered as a conscientious objector (if you are a Quaker for instance, your religion prevents you from participating in violent activity, therefore, you may be drafted and put in a hospital to work)
on moral grounds. If approved they may be placed in alternative service.
Selective Service
-All men 18-26 are required to register with Selective Service (the Draft). Failure to do this may result in a fine, five years in prison, no federal financial aid, and not eligible for government jobs. Draft Dodging (or not fulfilling your obligation once you've been drafted. Example: You receive notice that you have been drafted but run off to Canada to avoid service).
-the official rules within a society are known as laws.
-Laws are meant to keep us from hurting each other and setting boundaries
-Some laws are created for making and settling disagreements, some laws protect citizens' rights.
Defend the Nation
- The United States maintains armed services even during
peacetime to defend ourselves in case of an attack and
help other countries protect themselves.
-At the age of 18 you may volunteer to serve in the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and the Space Force.
-Men must register with the selective service when they
turn 18 years old.
-Registration does not mean they will be called to serve, but
they may be called to serve in a national crises.
-One may request to be registered as a conscientious objector (if you are a Quaker for instance, your religion prevents you from participating in violent activity, therefore, you may be drafted and put in a hospital to work)
on moral grounds. If approved they may be placed in alternative service.
Selective Service
-All men 18-26 are required to register with Selective Service (the Draft). Failure to do this may result in a fine, five years in prison, no federal financial aid, and not eligible for government jobs. Draft Dodging (or not fulfilling your obligation once you've been drafted. Example: You receive notice that you have been drafted but run off to Canada to avoid service).
Serve on a Jury
-Citizens over 18 have a civic duty to serve on jury duty, you cannot send someone in your place. Jurors are selected randomly, usually by driver's license numbers. You would receive a summons, or request from the courts to appear at a date to serve. No one is exempt, but there are exceptions made such as some in the medical field, those with mental issues, active military service, if it causes a temporary hardship, and for people over the age of 75. There are punishments for those who try to unlawfully get out of jury duty.
There are usually 12 members a jury in a criminal trial, and six members of the jury on a civil trial. Criminal trials are trials of individuals or a group who broke laws and will most likely be punished, if convicted, by jail time, probation, or community service. Civil trials usually decided cases over a money or land dispute, but no laws were broken.
-Citizens over 18 have a civic duty to serve on jury duty, you cannot send someone in your place. Jurors are selected randomly, usually by driver's license numbers. You would receive a summons, or request from the courts to appear at a date to serve. No one is exempt, but there are exceptions made such as some in the medical field, those with mental issues, active military service, if it causes a temporary hardship, and for people over the age of 75. There are punishments for those who try to unlawfully get out of jury duty.
There are usually 12 members a jury in a criminal trial, and six members of the jury on a civil trial. Criminal trials are trials of individuals or a group who broke laws and will most likely be punished, if convicted, by jail time, probation, or community service. Civil trials usually decided cases over a money or land dispute, but no laws were broken.
Serve as a Witness
-Citizens have a right to a fair trial. In most cases this means that witnesses will be called to testify or give their accounts during a trial. Witnesses are those who have certain knowledge of the crime or civil suit in question. Juries and witnesses make sure that trials are fair.
-Citizens have a right to a fair trial. In most cases this means that witnesses will be called to testify or give their accounts during a trial. Witnesses are those who have certain knowledge of the crime or civil suit in question. Juries and witnesses make sure that trials are fair.
Taxes
Pay Taxes - By collecting taxes, the national, state, and local governments raise money to pay for the services that citizens ask them to provide.
Variety of Taxes
-income tax - the more you make the more you pay
-special taxes - taxes can be created for a variety of "special" things or projects, example: a toll road puts a tax on the people that travel on the road.
-sales tax - can be one two different types: Flat tax: Everyone pays the same, or a gradual tax where every pays a certain percentage.
-Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - responsible for collecting federal taxes, and they have certain powers of enforcement to make sure the government gets its money. Taxes are filed by April 15th of every year.
Variety of Taxes
-income tax - the more you make the more you pay
-special taxes - taxes can be created for a variety of "special" things or projects, example: a toll road puts a tax on the people that travel on the road.
-sales tax - can be one two different types: Flat tax: Everyone pays the same, or a gradual tax where every pays a certain percentage.
-Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - responsible for collecting federal taxes, and they have certain powers of enforcement to make sure the government gets its money. Taxes are filed by April 15th of every year.
Education
-A society must have new generations that are prepared to be leaders and participants in the country's economy. Everyday that students go to school they are performing one of the duties as a citizen. Without the knowledge of what
-Students must go to school, according to law, until they are 16, unless signed permission from a parent has been given to allow them to drop out. Failure to continuously show up to school can and does carry a penalty. Skipping school is called truancy.
Truancy statistics
- 1/2 of all dropouts use welfare services as a means of support.
- 1/2 of all dropouts end up in prison.
-Of males in federal and state prisons, 80% do not have a high school diploma
-Students must go to school, according to law, until they are 16, unless signed permission from a parent has been given to allow them to drop out. Failure to continuously show up to school can and does carry a penalty. Skipping school is called truancy.
Truancy statistics
- 1/2 of all dropouts use welfare services as a means of support.
- 1/2 of all dropouts end up in prison.
-Of males in federal and state prisons, 80% do not have a high school diploma
Responsibilities of Citizens
Responsibilities are fulfilled by choice.
While not required by law, performing responsibilities are as important as performing civic duties.
These Responsibilities Include
-be informed, active and vote in all elections
-Participate - in gov't and in your community
-Respect the rights and property of others
-Respect different opinions and way of life.
These Responsibilities Include
-be informed, active and vote in all elections
-Participate - in gov't and in your community
-Respect the rights and property of others
-Respect different opinions and way of life.
Participate in Elections
- One of the basic rights of United States citizenship and one of our most important duties is to vote.
-All citizens who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote on national, state and local elections.
Citizens are asked to make important decisions on events that will shape their future.
-Important when voting is to be informed about the candidates and the issues.
-Separate fact from opinions while watching for bias and propaganda.
-All citizens who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote on national, state and local elections.
Citizens are asked to make important decisions on events that will shape their future.
-Important when voting is to be informed about the candidates and the issues.
-Separate fact from opinions while watching for bias and propaganda.
Participate Government
-Gov't decision affect your life.
-You have the responsibility to know what the gov't is doing, so that you can voice your opinion about these matters.
-The power rests in the people, you can express that by participating in government.
-Get and stay involved in government and our community.
-You have the responsibility to know what the gov't is doing, so that you can voice your opinion about these matters.
-The power rests in the people, you can express that by participating in government.
-Get and stay involved in government and our community.
Respect the Rights of Others
-The most basic responsibility of all citizens is to contribute to the common good, or well being of all members of society.
-Make your community a better place to live.
-Make your community a better place to live.
Respect the Opinions of Others
-The U.S. is a nation of diverse ideas and people, everyone has a right to their opinion and beliefs, and citizens should do the best they can to respect those opinions and beliefs.