rights and responsibilities of citizenship. “let…liberty stretch forth her hand toward the...

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship

“Let…Liberty stretch forth her hand toward the people of the old world. Tell them to come and bid them welcome.”

~Patrick Henry

Rights and Responsibilities of

CitizenshipA. Becoming a U.S. Citizen

1. Anyone born in U.S. or a territory it controls is a citizen

a.People born in Puerto Rico are U.S. Citizens because it is a territory of the U.S.

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship2. Naturalized citizen – person of foreign birth is granted full citizenship

a. people born in foreign countries can become citizens if parent is U.S. citizen

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship b. If parent is NOT U.S. citizen -

person must move to U.S. and complete long application process

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship3.Immigrant – person who permanently

moves to new country

a. legal immigrants have many of

same rights/responsibilities as U.S. citizens

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship1. Cannot vote or hold public

office

2. Immigrants who break law can be

deported, or returned to country

of origin

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

b. Two differences between naturalized and native-born citizens:

1. Naturalized citizen can lose citizenship

2. Naturalized citizen cannot become

president or vice president

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship4. Legal immigrants over 18 can petition for naturalization

1. Must live in US for 5 yrs

2. Must be able to financially support self

a. If not, must find sponsor

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship5. U.S. Immigration and Naturalization

Service (INS) oversees process of becoming citizen and sets hearing to test the person’s qualifications

a. tests in reading, writing, speaking

English

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship** The peak year for immigration in the US was 1907 – 1,285,349 people arrived

** The lowest year was 1933 – 23,068 arrived

Rights and Responsibilities of

CitizenshipB. Duties of Citizens – to other citizens,

the government and to ourselves

1. Citizens have duty to know and obey the laws

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship 2. Citizens must respect people in

authority and to respect rights of others

a. parents, police and teachersb. government protects children

whose parents who don’t take proper care of them

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship 3. Good citizenship includes paying taxes

a. used for public roads, police and fire departs

b. property taxes, sales taxes, tariffs

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenshipc. Income taxes – pay certain

percentage of income to federal government

1. progressive – increases

as you make more money

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship 2. Regressive – same for all

people regardless of income

- sales and city taxes

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship4.Duty to protect and defend the nation

from harm

a. help in war effort

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship1. Draft – helps raise the needed number of soldiers

a. men must register at 18 - gives govern list of people

in case war breaks out - women do not have to register

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship5. Citizens can be called to serve on a

jury

a. help fulfill 6th Amend right to trial by jury

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenship6. Duty to testify in court

ex: you witness a crime

Rights and Responsibilities of

CitizenshipC. Citizens and Elections

1. Elections are the basis of representative democracy

2. Must be 18 yrs to vote

Rights and Responsibilities of

CitizenshipD. Citizens and Government

1. Interest groups can be formed to influence politicians on

certain issues

ex: Million Mom March

2. Can write letters or attend meetings

Rights and Responsibilities of

CitizenshipE. Community Service

1. Civic Virtue – commitment to helping others

a. community volunteers

ex: neighborhood watch

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenshipex: during Revolution, women

made

cloth and other goods for colonists

Rights and Responsibilities of

CitizenshipColin Powell and volunteerism :

“ This is the time for each and every one of us to lift up a fellow American and put him on the road to success in this wonderful country of ours”

Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizenshipb. Government volunteers

ex: Red Cross

Habitat for Humanity