AMERICANS CITIZENSHIP AND GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 1 BECOMING A

AMERICANS, CITIZENSHIP, AND GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 1

BECOMING A CITIZEN • CITIZENS ARE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY WHO OWE LOYALTY TO A GOVERNMENT AND IN TURN, ARE ENTITLED TO THE PROTECTION OF GOVERNMENT. • CIVICS IS THE STUDY OF THE DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CITIZENS. • CITIZENSHIP DATES BACK MORE THAN 2, 500 YEARS TO ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.

BECOMING A CITIZEN • ANY PERSON BORN IN ANY 50 STATES, U. S. TERRITORY, OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IS AND AMERICAN CITIZEN AT BIRTH. • A PERSON BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY CAN CLAIM AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP IF BOTH PARENTS ARE U. S. CITIZENS, OR IF ONE PARENT IS A CITIZEN WHO HAS LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES.

BECOMING A CITIZEN • NATURALIZATION IS A LEGAL PROCESS TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP. • THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CITIZEN: ü MUST BE 18 ü MUST BEEN A LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT FOR 5 YEARS ü MUST BE ABLE TO READ, WRITE, AND SPEAK ENGLISH ü MUST BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER ü MUST SHOW AN UNDERSTANDING OF U. S. CIVICS

BECOMING A CITIZEN • ALIEN OR FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN NATURALIZED. • THE UNITED STATES ACCEPTS MORE PEOPLE AS REFUGEES. A REFUGEE IS A PERSON FLEETING HIS OR HER COUNTRY TO ESCAPE DANGER.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS

DUTIES OF CITIZENS • RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THINGS WE SHOULD DO. THEY ARE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE MEET OF OUR OWN FREE WILL. • DUTIES ARE ACTIONS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM. • DUTIES OF A CITIZEN ARE TO OBEY LAWS, PAY TAXES, DEFEND THE NATION, SERVE IN COURT, AND ATTEND SCHOOL.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS • THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CITIZEN ARE TO BE INFORMED AND ACTIVE CITIZEN, RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS, CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMON GOOD.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

TYPES OF GOVERNMENT • REPRESENTATIVES DEMOCRACY-CITIZENS CHOOSE A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO REPRESENT THEM, MAKE LAWS, AND GOVERN ON THEIR BEHALF. • CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY-THE POWER OF THIS HEREDITARY RULER IS LIMITED BY THE COUNTRY’S CONSTITUTION.

TYPES OF GOVERNMENT • TOTALITARIAN-DESCRIBES A SYSTEM IN WHICH GOVERNMENT CONTROL EXTENDS TO ALMOST ALL ASPECTS OF PEOPLE’S LIVES.