SS7 CIVICS: CH 1.3 Duties and Responsibilities of American Citizens
I. DUTIES OF CITIZENS
A. RESPONSIBILITIES ARE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE MEET ON OUR OWN, BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
B. DUTIES ARE ACTIONS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM.
C. IN THE UNITED STATES, THESE DUTIES ARE SET BY THAT ARE MADE. LAWS
D. FAILURE TO PERFORM DUTIES THESE RESULT IN PUNISHMENTS, FINES JAIL (PRISON) SUCH AS OR TIME IN. THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
OBEY LAWS LAWS are sets of rules that allow people to live together peacefully. They keep ORDER by letting citizens know which actions are acceptable and which are not. Without them, communities would risk their health, safety, and
PAX TAXES This provides the government with the MONEY it needs to operate. Without these, the government would not be able to PAY its employees, DEFEND the country, or HELP those in need. The police force, fire department, EMTs, schools, post office, and other services all remain in operation thanks to money derived from. TAXES People who avoid paying TAXES often face harsh fines, and in some cases even steeper penalties.
DEFEND THE NATION In the United States, the law requires most MALE citizens ages 18 to 25 to register with the Selective Service System. In the event of a major emergency, the government can DRAFT men out of this group to serve military service. The last time this happened was in, 1973 and hasn t been needed since.
SERVE IN COURT The Constitution gives anyone accused of a CRIME the right to a trial by jury. A JURY is a group of citizens who hear evidence in a case and decide whether the accused is INNOCENT or GUILTY. Citizens also have the duty of serving as WITNESS a in a court case if called to do so.
ATTEND SCHOOL Students ages 7 to 16 are required to attend schools by most states. Attending school prepares students with SKILLS they will need to work for their entire lives. Being educated is a major necessity so that citizens may lead PRODUCTIVE lives upon completion of their education.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS
A. IN ORDER FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO WORK, CITIZENS NEED TO PARTICIPATE TO MEET A SHARED GOAL.
B. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO SIMPLY BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO DO. WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT COMES FROM THIS INFORMATION, WE CANNOT FORM OPINIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ACTIONS, AND THEREFORE CANNOT ACT IF THE PROPOSITION IS AGAINST THE BEST INTEREST OF OURSELVES OUR LOVED ONES.
C. ANOTHER KEY RESPONSIBILITY IS ENSURING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY MAKING OUR CONCERNS KNOWN. WE DO THIS BY TAKING PART IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT DISPLAY THESE CONCERNS SUCH AS MAKING PETITIONS TO LAW MAKERS, EMAILS TO LAWMAKERS, AND SPEAKNG OUT WHEN ACTIONS ARE TAKEN THAT CONCERN US.
VOTING D. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY. BY ELECTING OUR LEADERS, THE PEOPLE WHO GOVERN US ARE FORCED TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS. HOWEVER, IF THE LARGEST PART OF THE CITIZENS DO NOT, VOTE WE ARE AGREEING TO BEND TO THE WILL OF THE SELECT FEW WHO DO. IN ORDER FOR OUR NEEDS AND WANTS TO BE MET, WE MUST VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES THAT BEST SUPPORTS OUR IDEAS.
E. IN THE UNITED STATES, YOU MUST 18 yr. old BE TO VOTE. IT IS ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF VOTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON ELECTED TO EACH POSITION IS DUTIES CARRYING OUT THE OF THAT POSITION, AS THEY SWORE TO IN THE OATH OF OFFICE.
F. TREATING OTHERS POLITELY AND RESPECTFULLY IS A MAJOR PART OF BEING A GOOD CITIZEN.
G. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IN A DEOCRATIC POPULATION, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO OPINIONS PRACTICES BELIEFS THEIR,, AND. THIS IS TOLERANCE CALLED.
H. IN ORDER FOR COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTS TO GROW, PEOPLE NEED TO PARTICIPATE.
I. RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS ARE WILLING TO GIVE TIME, EFFORT, AND MONEY TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY LIFE.
J. THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY MUST CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOOD COMMON, OR WHAT IS BEST FOR EVERYONE.
III. BEING INVOLVED
A. WE RELY ON GOVERNMENT PROVIDE TO MANY SERVICES. CITIZENS ALSO SHARE MEETING RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
B. GOOD CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF ALL MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS INCLUDES EACH MEMBER S HEALTH,, HAPPINESS PROSPERITY AND.
C. AT THE HEART OF THIS IS VOLUNTEERISM, OR GIVING OF YOUR TO WORK IN THE TIME COMMNUNITY.
D. AMERICANS HAVE DONE VOLUNTEER WORK FOR MANY YEARS. FRENCH WRITER ALEXIS DE TOCQUVILLE WAS AMAZED WHEN HE VISITED AMERICA TO SEE CITIZENS SOLVING COMMUNITY PROBLEMS RATHER THAN GOVERNMENT RELYING ON THE.
E. TODAY, THE UNITED STATES HAS 1 MILLION MORE THAN CHARITIES. ONE OF THESE, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LARGE CHARITABLE GROUP WHO HELPS NATION WIDE. TO DATE, THEY VE 350,000 BUILT HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
F. A N O T H E R V O L U N T E E R G R O U P, AMERICORPS, WORKS IN EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THEY RECEIVE MONEY TO HELP ITS MEMBERS PROVIDE SERVICES IN THESE AREAS.