Ch. 5 Ch. 5 The Duties and The Duties and

Responsibilities of Responsibilities of CitizenshipCitizenship

Duties and ResponsiblitiesDuties and Responsiblities

A Citizen’s Legal DutiesA Citizen’s Legal Duties Each of us belongs to many communities:Each of us belongs to many communities:

- neighborhood- neighborhood- town, city- town, city- school- school- church- church- state- state- country- country

As community members, we have many As community members, we have many responsibilities – responsibilities – things we should do or things we should do or obligations that we fulfill voluntarilyobligations that we fulfill voluntarily

A Citizen’s Legal DutiesA Citizen’s Legal DutiesAs citizens, we also haveAs citizens, we also have duties – duties –

things we are required to do. things we are required to do.

We must fulfill duties required by We must fulfill duties required by national, state, and local national, state, and local governments or face fines or governments or face fines or imprisonment.imprisonment.

DutiesDuties1.1. Obey the LawObey the Law

- Serve specific purposes, such as to help Serve specific purposes, such as to help people get along, prevent accidents, and people get along, prevent accidents, and see that resources are used fairlysee that resources are used fairly

2.2. Pay TaxesPay Taxes - - Government uses tax moneyGovernment uses tax money to pay police, to pay police,

pave roads, and maintain armed forces. pave roads, and maintain armed forces. People pay a percentage of what they bring People pay a percentage of what they bring in, or on the sale of goods or even property.in, or on the sale of goods or even property.

DutiesDuties3.3. Defend the NationDefend the Nation

- - In the U.S. all men aged 18-25 must register In the U.S. all men aged 18-25 must register with the government in case the country needs with the government in case the country needs to to draftdraft, or call up men for military service; , or call up men for military service; today military service is voluntary.today military service is voluntary.

4.4. Serve in CourtServe in Court- - Every adult citizen must be prepared to serve Every adult citizen must be prepared to serve on a jury or as a witness at a trial if called to do on a jury or as a witness at a trial if called to do so.so.

DutiesDuties5.5. Attend SchoolAttend School

- Most states require young people - Most states require young people to attend school until the age of 16.to attend school until the age of 16.

Civic ResponsibilitiesCivic Responsibilities1.1. Be InformedBe Informed

- Know what the government is doing so - Know what the government is doing so that you can voice your opinion. that you can voice your opinion.

- People can learn about issues and leaders - People can learn about issues and leaders by reading print publications, listening to by reading print publications, listening to news on the radio or T.V., talking o people, news on the radio or T.V., talking o people, and searching the internetand searching the internet

- - Be aware of your rightsBe aware of your rights

Civic ResponsibilitiesCivic Responsibilities2.2. Speak Up and VoteSpeak Up and Vote

- Remember, the government exists to serve - Remember, the government exists to serve you, but you must make your concerns you, but you must make your concerns known. known.

- Calling, writing, or sending e-mails to your - Calling, writing, or sending e-mails to your elected representatives; joining political elected representatives; joining political parties; working for a causeparties; working for a cause

- VOTE - VOTE

Civic ResponsibilitiesCivic Responsibilities3.3. Respect Other’s RightsRespect Other’s Rights

- people must respect public - people must respect public property and the property of others.property and the property of others.

- vandalizing and littering are not - vandalizing and littering are not only disrespectful but also a crime.only disrespectful but also a crime.

Civic ResponsibilitiesCivic Responsibilities4.4. Respect DiversityRespect Diversity

- Although we may disagree with people or - Although we may disagree with people or disapprove of their lifestyles, these people have disapprove of their lifestyles, these people have an equal right to their beliefs and practicesan equal right to their beliefs and practices

- - Tolerance Tolerance means respecting and accepting means respecting and accepting others, regardless of their beliefs, practices, or others, regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences.differences.

- - Diversity in our country is a strength, all Diversity in our country is a strength, all citizens are equal and entitled to be treated the citizens are equal and entitled to be treated the same.same.

Civic ResponsibilitiesCivic Responsibilities5.5. Contribute to the Common GoodContribute to the Common Good

- Contributing time, effort, and - Contributing time, effort, and money to help others and to money to help others and to improve the community life.improve the community life.

- Be an active participant in your - Be an active participant in your communitycommunity

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the CommunityAmericans do volunteer work to help Americans do volunteer work to help

make their communities better places to make their communities better places to live.live.

A A community community is a group of people who is a group of people who share the same interests and concerns. share the same interests and concerns.

Many volunteers today are students Many volunteers today are students between grades 6-12.between grades 6-12.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community Government at all levels, provide many Government at all levels, provide many

needs for the people, but resources are needs for the people, but resources are limited.limited.

Governments are Governments are bureaucracies – bureaucracies – complex complex systems with many departments, rules, and systems with many departments, rules, and people in the chain of command. people in the chain of command.

This often makes it difficult for government This often makes it difficult for government to respond quickly to social problems.to respond quickly to social problems.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the CommunityGood citizens of this country are Good citizens of this country are

concerned about the concerned about the welfare –welfare – the the health, prosperity, and happiness of all health, prosperity, and happiness of all members of the community.members of the community.

Some people participate in the Some people participate in the community by leading a scout troop; community by leading a scout troop; others mentor school children; visit others mentor school children; visit nursing homes; and collecting canned nursing homes; and collecting canned goods. Ex. PTAgoods. Ex. PTA

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community Volunteerism Volunteerism is the practice of offering is the practice of offering

your time and services to others without your time and services to others without payment.payment.

Instead of their time, many Americans Instead of their time, many Americans contribute money to charitycontribute money to charity

In 2005, people gave more than $250 billion In 2005, people gave more than $250 billion to charity. Average 2% of their income.to charity. Average 2% of their income.

Most came from average individual citizens, Most came from average individual citizens, some came from large corporations.some came from large corporations.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the CommunityMany companies believe in giving Many companies believe in giving

back to the community.back to the community.

Ex. sponsoring a recreational sports Ex. sponsoring a recreational sports team, donating prizes for community team, donating prizes for community fund-raisers, contributing to college fund-raisers, contributing to college scholarships to studentsscholarships to students

Ex. Bentonville, Arkansas – Wal-MartEx. Bentonville, Arkansas – Wal-Mart

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community When it comes to volunteering, people are When it comes to volunteering, people are

more likely to participate when they feel a more likely to participate when they feel a personal connection to a cause or know personal connection to a cause or know others involved ex. PTAothers involved ex. PTA

There are more than 1 million registered There are more than 1 million registered charities with the federal government; charities with the federal government; many are small and locally based.many are small and locally based.

All are dependant on ordinary people All are dependant on ordinary people giving their time.giving their time.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the CommunityMore than half of all U.S. middle More than half of all U.S. middle

schools and high schools now arrange schools and high schools now arrange community service for students from community service for students from 6-12 grade.6-12 grade.

Several hundred school districts now Several hundred school districts now require high school students to require high school students to volunteer a set number of hours to volunteer a set number of hours to earn a graduation diploma.earn a graduation diploma.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community The federal government has created national The federal government has created national

volunteer programs:volunteer programs:

1961, John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to fight poverty, disease, and war in the poorest fight poverty, disease, and war in the poorest corners of the world.corners of the world.

Established the Established the Peace CorpsPeace Corps which now has which now has 180,000 members in 138 countries.180,000 members in 138 countries.

Includes advising farmers, teaching children, Includes advising farmers, teaching children, vaccinations against disease, etc.vaccinations against disease, etc.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community AmeriCorps was established in 1993. 50,000 AmeriCorps was established in 1993. 50,000

Americans participate.Americans participate.

Domestically help disaster victims, clean up Domestically help disaster victims, clean up polluted rivers, assist individuals with polluted rivers, assist individuals with disabilities.disabilities.

In exchange, people receive a small living In exchange, people receive a small living allowance and money to help pay for allowance and money to help pay for college.college.

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community Senior Corps established in 1965, is a volunteer Senior Corps established in 1965, is a volunteer

program for people aged 55 and older. Consists program for people aged 55 and older. Consists of 3 main programs:of 3 main programs:

- Foster grandparents for children with special - Foster grandparents for children with special needs needs

- Senior companions for other seniors- Senior companions for other seniors

- The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program - The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (meals on wheels) or other neighborhood (meals on wheels) or other neighborhood activitiesactivities

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community USA Freedom Corps was a new program USA Freedom Corps was a new program

implemented by George W. Bush which implemented by George W. Bush which brought together all three programs:brought together all three programs:Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior CorpsPeace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps

Meant to focus on three areas of need:Meant to focus on three areas of need:- responding to national emergencies- responding to national emergencies- rebuilding our communities- rebuilding our communities- extending American compassion around - extending American compassion around the worldthe world

Citizens and the CommunityCitizens and the Community By banding together, we truly serve By banding together, we truly serve

ourselves.ourselves.

The benefits of volunteering:The benefits of volunteering:- make our communities better places to live- make our communities better places to live- gain opportunities to learn, make friends, - gain opportunities to learn, make friends, improve skillsimprove skills- gain the satisfaction of knowing that a - gain the satisfaction of knowing that a difference has been made in someone else’s difference has been made in someone else’s life. life.