What it Means to be a Citizen!

1
What it Means to be a Citizen!

• How do you become a citizen?
• What are your rights as a citizen?
• What are your duties as a citizen?
• What are your responsibilities as a citizen?

2
Who is a Citizen?

• Citizen- a person with certain rights and duties
  under a government

3
Who is a Citizen

• In the United States, a citizen is someone who
• 1. was born in the United States or one of its
  territories
• 2. has a parent that was an American citizen at
  the time of your birth (no matter where you were
  born)
• 3. has gone through the naturalization process
• 4. was less than 18 years old when your parent(s)
  were naturalized

4
Naturalization

• The process of becoming a citizen
• 1. A person submits an application to the US
  Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• 2. the applicant must meet several
  qualifications 18 or older, legal resident 5
  years, clean record, historical/government
  knowledge, etc
• 3. the applicant says an oath in front of a judge
  and receives a certificate

5
Naturalization Process

• http//www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.ac
  fc8bb2d633f506e34f4a10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid97c08c25
  bec2c210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRDvgnextchannel498
  2df6bdd42a210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

6
Certificate of Naturalization
7
Naturalization Ceremony
8
Naturalization Ceremony
9
Naturalized Citizens

• Have all the same rights as citizens by birth
  except the right to become President or Vice
  President
• Once a citizen always a citizen unless you become
  naturalized somewhere else or are convicted of
  treason
• the offense of acting to overthrow one's
  government or to harm or kill its sovereign
• Websters English Dictionary

10
The Office of Citizen

• Our government is based on the consent of the
  governed meaning our government does what the
  citizens want it to do
• Since each person cannot take part in government
  we elect representatives to take our place making
  our government a Representative Democracy

11
The Office of Citizen

• We elect the President, city council, mayor,
  governor, judges, congressman and many other
  important officials so they will make decisions
  and pass laws for us
• What are the specific duties of our members of
  government? How long are they elected for?

12
Warm Up

• Define each term in your own words
• Rights
• Duties
• Responsibilities

13
Rights, Duties, and Responsibilities of Citizens

• Rights of Citizens
• Personal rights
• Political Rights
• Economic Rights

14
Personal Rights

• Personal Rights rights allowed to a person to
  do as he or she wishes as long as those actions
  are inline with public order and dont interfere
  with other rights
• Right to practices any religion
• Right to say what you think speech/writing
• Freedom to travel
• Freedom to have children

15
Political Rights

• Political Rights
• Those rights that allow citizens to participate
  in the political processes
• Right to a fair law
• Equal protection under law
• Freedom of expression for political process
• Freedom to seek and hold office
• Freedom to serve on juries
• To hold free, fair, and regular elections

16
Economic rights

• Rights needed to earn a living and to acquire and
  transfer property or to produce goods and
  services
• Freedom to acquire use, and sell or give away
  property
• Freedom to choose ones work
• Freedom to enter into lawful contracts
• Freedom to establish and operate a business
• Freedom to join a labor union

17
(No Transcript)
18
Duties of Citizens

• Defending the nation
• Being subject to the draft
• When was the last American draft?
• Serving on a jury or as a witness in court
• All citizens are innocent until proven guilty in
  a court of law
• A fair trial is ensured by having a jury of
  peers. The final decision is not done by lawyers
  or judges but by citizens
• Why does a jury of peers ensure a fair trial?

19
Duties of Citizens

• Paying taxes
• Income tax, sales taxes, inheritance tax, etc.
• Do you pay taxes?
• Attending school
• Why are citizens required to attend school?
• How much schooling are you required to take?
• Obeying laws
• Rule of Law- no one is above the law and our
  government is made up of laws, not men and women

20
The Jury
21
Duties of Citizens

• How many of the 5 duties have you performed so
  far in your life?
• Rank the 5 duties from the most important to the
  least important

22
Responsibilities of Citizens

• Responsibilities are fulfilled through choice and
  are voluntary
• Working toward the common good
• Anything that makes our communities a better
  place to live
• Personal Responsibilities
• Civic Responsibilities

23
Responsibilities of Citizens

• Responsibilities are fulfilled through choice and
  are voluntary
• Civic Responsibilities
• Serving in the armed forced
• Voting
• Staying informed and investigating issues
• Holding Government offices
• Making decisions that are in the best interest of
  the people they represent
• Do politicians always do this?

24
Responsibilities of Citizens

• Personal Responsibilities obligations that each
  person assumes individually
• Behaving in a civil manner
• Considering rights and interests of others
• Supporting ones family
• Taking care of ones self
• Adhering to moral principles
• Being informed on what is happening in the world

25
View a sample Ballot

• http//www.johnson-county.com/auditor/sampbalgener
  al/2010general/2010generalCC.pdf

26
Sample Ballot

• Take a few minutes to look over the ballot
• What do you notice? Does it look complicated?
• What does write in mean?
• What does straight party mean?

27
So what happens. . . .

• If you dont believe in a law?
• Are you a good citizen if you break it or follow
  it?