Integrated Social Studies Madison Southern High School Citizenship Integrated Social Studies Madison Southern High School

Terms 01 Define the following key vocabulary terms, starting on page 56 in your red Civics textbook. Citizen Naturalized Alien Representatives

Terms 02 Define the following key vocabulary terms, starting on page 59 in your red Civics textbook. Rule of Law Jury of Peers Witnesses Common Good Candidate

3-2-1 Exercise - #1 3.) As you read, underline and identify any words that you read and don’t recognize. Then, we’ll discuss them. 2.) I want you to decide whether or not you are in favor of this law. Once you’ve decided whether or not you agree with it. I’d like for to come up with 2 reasons that back up your opinion. 1.) Do you think that requiring this test to graduate will begin to create generations of better citizens? Explain your answer.

Who is a Citizen? Citizen – a person who is granted certain rights and duties under a government of a particular country.

Who is a Citizen? So, who is an American citizen? Someone born in the U.S. or one of its territories. Having at least one American parent when you’re born. An alien who has been naturalized—the process of becoming a citizen. An alien is simply defined as a citizen of one country who is living in another country. Aliens are either categorized as legal or illegal, depending upon whether or not they hold a green card. Anyone under 18 years of age when their parents are naturalized.

So, it’s this – Not this –

The Process of Naturalization The process of naturalization isn’t particularly quick or easy. It includes each of the following – You must live in the U.S. for 5 years and in the same state for at least 3 years Large amounts of complicated paperwork Multiple personal interviews A citizenship test

The Process of Naturalization If an alien goes through these steps, and passes, they will then swear an oath and – VOILA! They are now citizens of the United States, the most diverse country in the world.

The Office of a Citizen Abraham Lincoln observed that ours is a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” What does this mean, in your opinion? Representatives – people who are chosen to speak and act for their fellow citizens in government. Some examples include members of Congress, the President, city council members, mayors, governors, and many of our judges.

Citizenship Test Questions What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? What is one right or freedom from the first amendment? Name one branch of the government. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? How many justices are on the Supreme Court? What is the political party of the President now? Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

Duties of Citizens Duties of a citizen include, but are not limited to – Obeying the laws Defending the nation Serving on a jury or as a witness in court Paying taxes Attending school The Rule of Law – the concept of laws, rather than men and women. In a democracy, no individual is above the law.

Duties of Citizens Jury of Peers – A group of ordinary citizens who hear the case and decide whether the accused person is innocent or guilty of a crime. Witness – A person who has seen events related to a crime or who has special information that may help determine the guilt or innocence of the person on trial.

Rights of Citizens American Rights – based on fundamental beliefs and values that all Americans share, such as: equal respect, freedom, equality, and justice. Holding the “Office of Citizen” – entitles a citizen to all the rights afforded to Americans by the Constitution of the United States of America. All of our rights are protected by the courts.

Rights of Citizens The right to vote and hold elected office. ALL Americans have – How would you rank these rights in order of the most importance to you, personally? Take a couple minutes to tackle this challenge. The right to vote and hold elected office. The right to say what you think in speech or writing. The right to practice your own religion. The right to have a fair trial.

Responsibilities of Citizens Responsibilities are fulfilled by the choice of Americans. The idea is that we should be working towards the common good/goal that best serves the well-being of all members of society.

Responsibilities of Citizens Voting – The right to vote is one of the most basic and important American rights. Roughly 40% of Americans don’t vote at all. The California Voter Foundation found that 93% of infrequent voters felt that voting and being a good citizen were unrelated. Do you agree? Holding Government Office – these citizens may be elected or appointed.

Responsibilities of Citizens Election Campaigns – candidates run for office. Influencing Government – good citizens express their thoughts to the representatives and government officials. Serving the Community – each citizen should act to serve his or her community when possible. Final Thoughts – What is the difference between a duty and a responsibility?

Levels of Participation Choice – only you can decide how actively you are going to pursue a given role. Consequences – you must accept the consequences of participating or not participating. Most people find that when they participate fully in a role, they feel satisfaction and a betters sense of who they are. If you don’t care to share, how would you describe your family members in regards to citizen participation?

The Citizen Role Active Participants – Americans have the choice to play the “Citizen Role” at whatever level they like. Participation leads to a better society for all. Do you agree or disagree with that statement? Priorities – only you can decide how much time and energy to spend on being a contributing citizen.