Unit 2 Effective Citizenship

What does it mean to be a citizen?

Rights Freedom to express yourself Freedom to worship as you wish Right to a prompt, fair trial by a jury Right to vote Right to run for office Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Responsibilities Support and defend the Constitution Respect and obey laws Serve on a jury Participate in your community Pay taxes Defend the country if needed Vote

Rules and Laws Laws have a purpose: To protect the rights of the people To keep people safe To describe how people should behave Laws exist because no society could survive if people just did what they pleased without concern for others.

There are punishments for breaking the law! Some of the punishments are: fines community service jail time life in prison death Laws can and do change. These changes are made to protect citizens.

Give Me Your Opinion LawReason for Law Citizens can be arrested for drunk driving: Citizens must be 18 to vote. Children between the ages of 7 and 16 must attend school

Taxes Local, state, and federal governments require taxes to pay money for public goods and services. Taxes are necessary and helpful. Taxes pay for: schoolsPolice protection librariesFire protection highwaysPark Rangers parksTeachers Public buildingsPresident of the United States

Which items are paid for with tax money? If go to the store and make a purchase YOU pay taxes as well! public schoolclothingParadise Park restaurantfire stationPublic Library public roadbicycleFather’s car police Stationmilitarycourthouse

Jury Duty The United States Constitution guarantees every person in the United States the right to a trial by jury. With this right comes the responsibility to serve on jury duty. Georgia has exception: 1.Over the age of 70 2.Caregiver to a child under the age of 4 3.Full time college or technical school student.

Jury Duty If you serve on jury duty, you must listen to the evidence in the trial and decide whether the accused person is innocent or guilty. The law says that if you are a witness to a crime and you are ordered to appear in court you attend. A witness that lies in a court of law is guilty of the crime of perjury and can be severely punished. A witness that fails to appear in court when ordered to do so can be charged with the crime of contempt of court.

Selective Service All males are required to register with the Selective Service System when they reach the age of 18. The gives the government a list of men who can be drafted into the armed forces in case there is a national emergency.