Effective Citizenship leads to Active Citizenship What is

Effective Citizenship leads to Active Citizenship

What is effective citizenship? �When citizens help build up a society, and allow the political and judicial systems to function as authorized under the US Constitution. �Effective citizenship includes recognizing recurring problems in society and helping to provide solutions to those problems.

Characteristics of Effective Citizenship �Voluntary Compliance- citizens must willingly comply/agree with the laws in order to maintain order. But if a law is unjust then citizens can protest it in a civil manner. �Volunteerism- to volunteer in such things as serving food to poor, donating blood to the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and United Way. �Community Spirit- to engage in community service and give money and/or time to charities (not for profit or non-profit organizations).

Patriotism- to love and have a deep sense of duty to the U. S. and greatly appreciate living in the U. S. Respecting others- respect the rights of other citizens. Individual Rights like freedom of speech and religion(1 st amendment) and property rights. As citizens we need to treat others with respect even though they live or believe differently. This is tolerance. This is also known as Responsible behavior. Paying taxes- as citizens we have to be able to pay for local, state, and federal taxes. Paying for government services.

�MOST IMPORTANT: VOTE!!!!! �It is a citizens way to express how they feel the gov’t is performing and effect who decides what laws are best for the citizens of city, county, state, and/or national gov’t.

Active Citizenship

Voting Process �On any election day a citizen reports to a polling placethis is the actual place where the citizen votes. �Key things to know about voting: �A. Voting district determines the candidates you may vote for in a current election. http: //www. ncsbe. gov/downloads/Sample. Ballots/2012 -1106/Alamance/ALAMANCE-20121106 -Style 001 v. pdf � http: //www. ncsbe. gov/downloads/Sample. Ballots/2012 -1106/Davidson/DAVIDSON-20121106 -Style 001 v. pdf � �B. Precinct (polling place)- is the area you have been assigned to vote. There are several precincts within a voting district � Apathy- Not Caring. A major issue in our Electorate. Generally less than 50% of the population has voted in our general elections.

Sample Polling Place

Political Activism �The act of being politically involved in the functions of your government. �Examples include: �Voting �Petition: signing documents to influence decisions or policies. A recent examples has been the petition to secede form the Union (Texas)

Political Activism Con’t: �Protests- An example could be boycotting Walmart because of its failure to sell American Products �Marches and sit-ins

Public Service �Public service includes: Community Service, Judicial Service, and Political Service �Examples of Community Service include: �Peace Corps(JFK 1961)- Send US Volunteers to developing foreign nations to serve in varied capacities. �Ameri Corps (Clinton 1993)-Community service across America �Job Corps (LBJ 1964)- The Goodwill of the sixties. Provided Job skills and training for at risk youth. �Senior Corps-Seniors volunteering their time.

Judicial Service �Jury duty- to serve on a jury �Sequestor- jury isolated from society to insure their decision is not influenced by outside factors �Subpoena- called to court as a witness-trial �Voir dire- Question witness to determine qualifications of being on stand. (M. C. Vinny)

Political Service �Freedom of Press keeps an informed electorate. �Serve in office. (Politicians are public servants!) �Join a PAC (Political Action Committee) or interest group (AARP, NRA) �Volunteering for a political candidate campaigning.

Issues and Responsibilities that affect Citizenship

Conflicting Responsibilities �Civic �Personal �Fiscal �Legal �Moral

Diversity Melting Pot vs. Tossed Salad � American society can best be described as a TOSSED SALAD. Where all people are represented, make up a whole, but are still true to their culture and nationality. � A melting pot (assimilation) means we have all assimilated together (melted) and we have adopted each others customs. � E Pluribus Unum—Out of many One… Out of a lot of people one country.

Diversity

The Negative Impact of Diversity �Racism �Sexism �Ageism �Bias �Religious differences �Disability �Physical appearance

Other Issues in Society that require effective citizenship to reach appropriate solutions � 1 -Discrimination-denying someone an opportunities to qualified individuals based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, physical condition, appearance, and age. � 2 -Unemployment-not having enough jobs for American citizens. � 3 - Underemployment education- not having enough resources to train and equip citizens to find work in the ever changing technological world.

� 4 - Poverty-economic condition that leads families to not be able to provide the basic needs. (food, clothing, shelter) This can result in homelessness. � 5 -Substance Abuse- how to deal with the growing problem of addicted people in America. � 6 -Law and Order- how to deal with crime? Stiffer penalties and or rehabilitation? What should resources be spent on? And what type of prison reform?

� 7 -Disease- to develop research to help fight diseases like cancer, Aids, and things like the “bird flu”. Agencies like the US Center for Disease Control works on vaccines. � 8 -Immigration- How to handle immigration issues. Tougher penalties? Illegal Immigration has two perspectives 1 -send them back, deportation, b/c they put a strain on the US health care system. 2 - they are needed b/c they do a lot of labor jobs that most Americans wont do and that our society needs.

� 9 -National Security- How far is the gov’t allowed to go in limiting the civil liberties of its citizens. �The Patriot Act � 10 -Natural Disasters- hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and western forest fires. �Hurricane Sandy � 11 -Pollution-waste disposal and how to dispose of chemicals and other trash, acid rain (chemicals released into air that then fall with rain. ), greenhouse effect (the main cause of global warming where gases keep heat from sun in atmosphere. ) Some scientists question this theory.

� 12 - taxation- how to tax businesses and citizens. This is commonly Known as Fiscal policy � 13 -Graft and Political Corruption-using position to make money and serve self interests and not the publics interests.

Other problems and concerns The needs of citizens. �Sometimes our needs are dependent on other countries. If they have a conflict that effects the supply of that resource, it can effect our economy. (ex -gas). �Baby Boomers-children from soldiers after WWII. �This boom has caused the current issue of “the graying population”. (Lots of old people. )

�As Baby Boomers age there are several current issues that have occurred. � 1 -The health care system continues to change to meet their needs. � 2 -Social Security system is being stretched thin almost to the point of eliminating the system all together. �****social security- a system set up to help people save for retirement that hadn’t been taught to prepare for their future.