The Citizen and the Community The Constitution Unit 2 Lesson 6

A Citizen’s Legal Duties We are part of many different communities Responsibilities are things we should do Duties are things we must do If you fail to do your duties you are subject to legal penalties US govt. has several duties it expects its citizens to fulfill

Duties of US Citizens Obey Laws: if people don’t obey laws govt. can not maintain order Pay Taxes: taxes are used to pay for govt. service and pay govt. employees Defend the Nation: all men aged 18 through 25 are required to register for the draft Serve in Court: Americans are expected to serve on juries or serve as a witness if called to do so Attend School: Most states require young people to attend school until age 16; Kentucky requirement is age of 18

Responsibilities of Citizens Be Informed: a citizens should know what the govt. is doing so that you can voice your opinions on matters you feel strongly about Speak Up and Vote: thoughtful citizens study, work for, and vote for candidates that they support so that they select the best people to lead our country Respect Others Rights: citizens should treat their neighbors with respect, show respect for other property Respect Diversity: Treating others with respect whether you agree with their opinion or lifestyle

The Need for Volunteering Govt. has limited resources and is not capable of solving all of society’s problems Govt. is often limited by bureaucracies; complex systems with many departments, many rules, and many people in the chain of command In many cases the best solutions for problems in society come from private citizens

Volunteering Volunteerism: the practice of offering your time and services to others without payment People may also donate money to causes they find worthy More than one million charities are officially registered with the federal government; many are small and locally based Some schools, such as HC, have a community service requirement to graduate Federal govt. also sponsors community service organizations: Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps