C.5 Your rights, duties, and responsibilities

Rights As an American citizen you have certain rights. These rights are listed in the U.S. Constitution, your state constitution, and through local laws. The Bill of rights are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Some of the most important rights are the rights of the accused. The 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th amendments deal with the rights of the accused.

Rights of the Accused 4 th amendment:  You have the right to no “unreasonable search and seizure”

5 th amendment The 5 th amendment consists of the following clauses:  You have the right to no self-incrimination  Eminent Domain  You have the right to no double jeopardy  Due process  You have the right to go before a grand jury "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

6 th amendment You have the right to a speedy and public trial You have the right to an attorney You have the right to a jury of peers

7 th amendment You have the right to a jury trial in civil cases over $20

8 th amendment The right to “no cruel and unusual punishment” and “ no excessive bail”

Duties and Responsibilities A duty is something that is required by all citizens. Examples of duties:  Jury duty  Obeying the law  Paying taxes  The draft

Duties and Responsibilities A responsibility is something that a citizen should do. For example,  Voting  Being well-informed  Volunteer

Volunteerism “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” JFK- Presidential Inauguration Why do we need people to volunteer? To make our community (a group of people who share the same interests and concerns) a better place to live. The gov’t has limited resources. the gov’t is a bureaucracy, which is a complex system with many departments, many rules, and many people in the chain of command

Volunteerism continued Donating Time and Money  PTA  Preparing holiday baskets for the needy in a neighborhood  Leading museum tours  Volunteering at animal shelter  Volunteering at a nursing home  Large companies may donate money to a community projects like a new public swimming pool, scholarships, etc..

Volunteerism continued Volunteers in Action Charitable Organizations  more than one million charitable organizations are registered with the federal gov’t  many are small and locally operated and deal with either (1) helping victims of domestic abuse or (2) preserving historic landmarks

Volunteerism continued School Based programs  More than ½ of all schools now arrange community service for students grades 6-12  Some school districts require it, such as Atlanta, Ga., Chicago IL., and the entire state of Maryland National Service Programs Peace Corps- to help people in the poorest corners of the world  advise farmers  teach children  did wells  help start small businesses  fight the spread of AIDS AmeriCorps allows 50,000 Americans to participate in local and national organizations; For example American Red Cross

Volunteerism continued The Benefits of Volunteering  We serve ourselves by serving others  You’ll make friends  Be satisfied and feel good  Learn about teamwork