Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship “Let…Liberty stretch forth her hand toward the people of the old world. Tell them to come and bid them welcome. ” ~Patrick Henry

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship A. Becoming a U. S. Citizen 1. Anyone born in U. S. or a territory it controls is a citizen a. People born in Puerto Rico are U. S. Citizens because it is a territory of the U. S.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 2. Naturalized citizen – person of foreign birth is granted full citizenship a. people born in foreign countries can become citizens if parent is U. S. citizen

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship b. If parent is NOT U. S. citizen person must move to U. S. and complete long application process

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 3. Immigrant – person who permanently moves to new country a. legal immigrants have many of same rights/responsibilities as U. S. citizens

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 1. Cannot vote or hold public office 2. Immigrants who break law can be deported, or returned to country of origin

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship b. Two differences between naturalized and native-born citizens: 1. Naturalized citizen can lose citizenship 2. Naturalized citizen cannot become president or vice president

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 4. Legal immigrants over 18 can petition for naturalization 1. Must live in US for 5 yrs 2. Must be able to financially support self a. If not, must find sponsor

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 5. U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) oversees process of becoming citizen and sets hearing to test the person’s qualifications a. tests in reading, writing, speaking English

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship ** The peak year for immigration in the US was 1907 – 1, 285, 349 people arrived ** The lowest year was 1933 – 23, 068 arrived

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship B. Duties of Citizens – to other citizens, the government and to ourselves 1. Citizens have duty to know and obey the laws

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 2. Citizens must respect people in authority and to respect rights of others a. parents, police and teachers b. government protects children whose parents who don’t take proper care of them

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 3. Good citizenship includes paying taxes a. used for public roads, police and fire departs b. property taxes, sales taxes, tariffs

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship c. Income taxes – pay certain percentage of income to federal government 1. progressive – increases as you make more money

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 2. Regressive – same for all people regardless of income - sales and city taxes

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 4. Duty to protect and defend the nation from harm a. help in war effort

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 1. Draft – helps raise the needed number of soldiers a. men must register at 18 - gives govern list of people in case war breaks out - women do not have to register

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 5. Citizens can be called to serve on a jury a. help fulfill 6 th Amend right to trial by jury

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship 6. Duty to testify in court ex: you witness a crime

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship C. Citizens and Elections 1. Elections are the basis of representative democracy 2. Must be 18 yrs to vote

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship D. Citizens and Government 1. Interest groups can be formed to influence politicians on certain issues ex: Million Mom March 2. Can write letters or attend meetings

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship E. Community Service 1. Civic Virtue – commitment to helping others a. community volunteers ex: neighborhood watch

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship ex: during Revolution, women made cloth and other goods for colonists

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship Colin Powell and volunteerism : “ This is the time for each and every one of us to lift up a fellow American and put him on the road to success in this wonderful country of ours”

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship b. Government volunteers ex: Red Cross Habitat for Humanity