How are a citizen’s rights protected under the Constitution?

 Along with rights and freedoms, all citizens of the United States have responsibilities.  All citizens must obey the laws of their state, and of the United States.  Your civic duties include following the rules of your school and classroom.

 Obeying laws  Paying taxes  Serving on a jury when called  Registering for selective service

 Laws have several important purposes: ◦ To protect the rights of the people ◦ to keep the people safe ◦ To describe how people should behave

 Laws exist because no society could survive if people just did what they pleased without any concern for others.  It’s the job of police officers and courts to make sure that people obey the laws.  There are punishments for disobeying laws, such as fines, jail time, or even life in prison!  The punishment depends on the crime. ◦ For example: the penalty for stealing a motorcycle is greater than the penalty for parking in a “no parking” zone.

 Sometimes laws change.  Laws are made with good intentions, but lawmakers don’t always think of everything!  Sometimes your family or school changes its rules too.  Changes are made to protect you and other citizens.

 Let’s pretend you went back to George Washington’s time. ◦ There were no automobiles, planes or space shuttles. ◦ George Washington used a horse and carriage to get from one place to another. ◦ It was not nearly as fast as we travel today.  Do you think he had to obey a speed limit?

 What would happen today if there were no speed limits? What would happen if everyone drove as fast as they wanted?  Some rules and laws are designed to protect citizens in their homes. Some rules and laws are designed to protect citizens at school or at work, and some are designed to protect citizens in their communities.

 You’ve probably heard your parents complain about paying taxes! It’s a fact of life that we pay taxes.  Local, state, and federal governments require citizens to pay money for public goods and services.  Taxes are necessary and helpful – if we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t have many of the goods and services we enjoy every day!

 Taxes pay for things like schools, libraries, highways, and parks. They also pay for the salaries of government employees such as police, firefighters, Congressmen, park rangers, and teachers.  Even the president’s salary is paid for by taxes! Do you see how ours is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?

 Did you know that you pay taxes too?  Every time you buy something at the store, you pay sales tax.  When you bought your last toy, game or CD, you paid sales tax. When you bought a souvenir at a Braves or Falcons game, you paid sales tax.

 The U.S. Constitution guarantees every person in the U.S.A. the right to a trial by jury. With this right comes the responsibility to serve on a jury when called.  A jury typically consists of 12 people who hear the evidence in the trial, and decide whether the accused person is innocent or guilty. The person on trial is the defendant.

 Names of jurors are usually selected from lists of registered voters and people who have driver’s licenses. People chosen to be jurors have to stop working at their jobs and attend the trial as long as it lasts.  Sometimes people ask to be excused from jury duty for personal reasons. Possible exemptions in Georgia: ◦ Persons over 70 years of age ◦ Caregiver of a child under 4 years of age ◦ Full-time student at a college or vocational school

 Since 1981, all men are required to register with the Selective Service System as they reach the age of 18. Such registration is designed to provide the government with a list of men who can be drafted into the armed services in the event of a national emergency.  Right now, women are not required to sign up because the law refers specifically to men. Registering does not necessarily mean that a man will go into the military.