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