Rights and Responsibilities of a United States Citizen

As a young citizen of the United States of America, I am entitled to certain rights. I also have responsibility to others in this country and to my country, as well.

Rights vs. Responsibilities CAN I?I?

RIGHTS Definition: Things that you are allowed to do because of nature or because of law

Because of NATURE? Because of LAW? What are you talking about, man? NO! What you talkin’ ‘bout mann?!

Ok, ok… Here we go… “Because of Nature” A long time ago a man named John Locke said that every human pursues three things: life (survival), liberty (freedom), and property (owning things to help us survive). Mr. Locke called these NATURAL RIGHTS.

Ok, Let’s talk about “because of law,” “Because of Law” Just as all people have natural rights, there are also rights that are created by the laws. For example, Congress can pass a law that gives people new rights! GOT IT! THANKS!

T YPES OF R IGHTS Personal Rights Allow people to live how they want as long as it doesn’t get in the way of other people’s rights. Political Rights Allow people to participate in the political process. We need participation to have democracy. People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups with some examples.

T YPES OF R IGHTS Personal Rights o Freedom of Speech People can say what they think! o Freedom from Discrimination People must be treated equally! o Right to own Property Political Rights o Right to Assemble People can meet together! o Freedom of the Press People can print the facts they want! o Right to Equal Protection Under Law People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups with some examples. Aren’t there more?

Yes! your It’s your turn to sort the rights! you And especially you! you And you two, too!

Freedom of Religion People can believe what they want! Hint: Would this effect people in the political process OR does it have an effect on people living their lives the way they want?

T YPES OF R IGHTS Personal Rights o Freedom of Speech People can say what they think! o Freedom from Discrimination People must be treated equally! o Right to own Property o Freedom of Religion People can believe what they want! Political Rights o Right to Assemble People can meet together! o Freedom of the Press People can print the facts they want! o Right to Equal Protection Under Law People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups. The freedom to believe what you want is a PERSONAL RIGHT!

Right to Petition People can ask the government for change without fear! Hint: Would this impact people participating in the political process OR would it have a bigger impact on people living their lives the way they want? P ERSONAL OR P OLITICAL ?

T YPES OF R IGHTS Personal Rights o Freedom of Speech People can say what they think! o Freedom from Discrimination People must be treated equally! o Right to own Property o Freedom of Religion People can believe what they want! Political Rights o Right to Assemble People can meet together! o Freedom of the Press People can print the facts they want! o Right to Equal Protection Under Law o Freedom to Petition People can ask the government for change without fear! People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups. The freedom to ask for change is a POLITICAL RIGHT!

Right to Vote People can elect representatives and vote on issues! Hint: Would this impact people participating in the political process OR would it have a bigger impact on people living their lives the way they want? P ERSONAL OR P OLITICAL ?

Do you? Most people know who the President of the United States is. Do you? How about the Governor of New Jersey? His name is Chris Christie

T YPES OF R IGHTS Personal Rights o Freedom of Speech People can say what they think! o Freedom from Discrimination People must be treated equally! o Right to own Property o Freedom of Religion People can believe what they want! Political Rights o Right to Assemble People can meet together! o Freedom of the Press People can print the facts they want! o Right to Equal Protection Under Law o Freedom to Petition People can ask the government for change without fear! o Right to Vote People can elect representatives and vote on issues! People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups. The freedom to elect representatives is a POLITICAL RIGHT!

Freedom of Movement People can go where and when they want to! Hint: Would this impact people participating in the political process OR would it have a bigger impact on people living their lives the way they want? P ERSONAL OR P OLITICAL ?

T YPES OF R IGHTS Personal Rights o Freedom of Speech People can say what they think! o Freedom from Discrimination People must be treated equally! o Right to own Property o Freedom of Religion People can believe what they want! o Freedom of Movement People can go where and when they want! Political Rights o Right to Assemble People can meet together! o Freedom of the Press People can print the facts they want! o Right to Equal Protection Under Law o Freedom to Petition People can ask the government for change without fear! o Right to Vote People can elect representatives and vote on issues! People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups. The freedom to move is a PERSONAL RIGHT!

T YPES OF R IGHTS People put rights into all kinds of categories, but here are the two main groups. We can gather and speak our minds! Personal Rights o Freedom of Speech People can say what they think! o Freedom from Discrimination People must be treated equally! o Right to own Property o Freedom of Religion People can believe what they want! o Freedom of Movement People can go where and when they want! Political Rights o Right to Assemble People can meet together! o Freedom of the Press People can print the facts they want! o Right to Equal Protection Under Law o Freedom to Petition People can ask the government for change without fear! o Right to Vote People can elect representatives and vote on issues!

D O I H AVE R IGHTS ? As a student, you have rights, but your rights are limited to protect you and your peers. For example, you can’t say whatever you want in a speech at a school event. Your school can require you to be respectful and appropriate. When you are an adult, you have more freedom to do and say what you want. Does this seem fair to you? Give a thumbs up or down! Why might it be important for students to have limited rights in school? Give ONE reason it might be important. Blaaaah blah blahhh blah…

W HAT D O A LL T HESE R IGHTS M EAN F OR M E ? With rights, or freedoms, come… RESPONSIBILITY!!! There you go again! Explain yourself!

RESPONSIBILITIES Means: expected Means: Students are expected to take care of certain things or perform duties Oh! Stuff we’re supposed to do!

T YPES OF R ESPONSIBILITY 1. Personal Duties have 1A. Things you have to do! o Jury Duty o Pay Taxes o Obey Laws o Register for Selective Service o Get an Education 2. Social Responsibilities 2A. Things you should do! o Stay Informed o Tolerate Others o Protect Public Safety o Register to Vote o Speak Your Mind Just like rights, there are different kinds of responsibilities. Yo Mr. R’s class! Wot’s Happenin’ Dudes?

Yes! As a student, your list of responsibilities might look a little different. Your list may not include voting, but it probably includes respecting authority. I’m a student… Do I have responsibilities??

YES! Is voting a right? Is voting also a responsibility? Do they ever overlap?

YES! What if you yelled “FIRE!” in a crowded movie theater? What RIGHT might be involved? What RESPONSIBILITY might be involved? Do they ever conflict?

In the crowded movie theater scenario, which is more important: The right? Or the responsibility? The responsibility. Even though you have a right to free speech, you have the responsibility to protect the public safety. It would be seriously unsafe to yell “FIRE!” in a crowded movie theater…

L ET ’ S R ECAP … T HUMBS U P OR D OWN ? As we click through each slide, give a thumbs up if a statement is true or a thumbs down if a statement is false.

Rights are things that you are allowed to do because of science or because you want to. L ET ’ S R ECAP … T HUMBS U P OR D OWN ? Nature and Law

L ET ’ S R ECAP … T HUMBS U P OR D OWN ? The Constitution lays out rights for citizens of the United States in the Bill of Rights.

L ET ’ S R ECAP … T HUMBS U P OR D OWN ? There are two main categories of rights: Personal Rights and Private Rights. X Political

L ET ’ S R ECAP … T HUMBS U P OR D OWN ? Students and adults have the same rights.

L ET ’ S R ECAP … T HUMBS U P OR D OWN ? While we have many rights, that also means that we have many responsibilities.

Great Job! Thanks for helping us understand our RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES!

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.