Immigration and CitizenshipLesson Eight: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Objective

What it means to be a citizen of a nation

American citizens have certain rights and responsibilities (for example, voting, eligible to hold public office, paying taxes)

Vocabulary

Rights – things that people are allowed to do or are protected from

Responsibilities – things that people must do because it is their job or task

American Citizens

Becoming an American citizen allows us to do many things that we could not do as immigrants.

Can you think of anything that the new citizens could do now that they couldn’t do before?

Those are some good ideas. There are many more right that American citizens have. They also have many responsibilities.

Rights

Some of these things are called “Rights,” which are the things that people are allowed to do or are protected from.

These “Rights” include the things that were written in the “Bill of Rights” that was added to the Constitution.

In your journals write the word “Rights” and underline it. Then make a list of rights American citizens have: freedom of religion freedom of speech the right to vote the right to hold office

Only citizens who are born in the U.S. are allowed to be president, but naturalized citizens can hold any other office.

Rights

Freedom to express yourself.

Freedom to worship as you wish.

Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury.

Right to vote in elections for public officials.

Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship.

Right to run for elected office.

Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Responsibilities

Write the word “Responsibilities” in your journals.

American citizens also have certain things that we must do and these things are our responsibilities.

Make a list of the responsibilities of American citizens: pay taxes obey the law volunteer in our communities

Responsibilities

Support and defend the Constitution.

Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.

Participate in the democratic process.

Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.

Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.

Participate in your local community.

Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.

Serve on a jury when called upon.

Defend the country if the need should arise.

Classroom Rights and Responsibilities

We have rights and responsibilities to our nation but, we also have them in our classroom.

After draw a picture of a classroom responsibility you have.

Rights and Responsibilities - optional

Go over the handout.

Horton Hears a Who

Horton feels that every one is important and has rights. Even if they are very small.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0xQsleqNyQ