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By Marcus HarrisBy Marcus Harris

The Rights, The Rights, Responsibilities, and Responsibilities, and

Advantages (Benefits) of Advantages (Benefits) of being a U.S. Citizen being a U.S. Citizen

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OverviewOverview

For any U.S. citizen, it is important to For any U.S. citizen, it is important to know your place in society. America know your place in society. America is the land of opportunity because it is the land of opportunity because it guarantees the protection of God-guarantees the protection of God-given natural rights. For U.S. citizens, given natural rights. For U.S. citizens, it is important to know not just your it is important to know not just your rights but to fulfill the duties that are rights but to fulfill the duties that are required of them in America. If these required of them in America. If these duties are fulfilled, any U.S. citizen duties are fulfilled, any U.S. citizen will be able to receive the benefits will be able to receive the benefits of living in America. of living in America.

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Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

One of the most important rights One of the most important rights that we possess as Americans is the that we possess as Americans is the right to Freedom of Speech.right to Freedom of Speech.

With this right, we can expression With this right, we can expression controversial opinions without controversial opinions without worrying about being imprisoned.worrying about being imprisoned.

American’s freedom of speech is American’s freedom of speech is protected by the 1protected by the 1stst Amendment in Amendment in the Bill of Rightsthe Bill of Rights

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Right to Bear ArmsRight to Bear Arms

U.S. citizens are given the right to U.S. citizens are given the right to possess firearms if they will by the 2possess firearms if they will by the 2ndnd Amendment in the Bill of Rights.Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

The main purpose of the Second The main purpose of the Second Amendment is to give citizens the Amendment is to give citizens the right to form an organized militia and right to form an organized militia and protect themselves from a tyrannical protect themselves from a tyrannical government. government.

The Second Amendment is also useful The Second Amendment is also useful for giving individuals the right to own for giving individuals the right to own any firearms for personal protection.any firearms for personal protection.

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Right to PrivacyRight to Privacy

One important right that everyone One important right that everyone can support is the right to privacy as can support is the right to privacy as protected by the 4protected by the 4thth Amendment. Amendment.

People are protected from People are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures unreasonable searches and seizures of their possessions without a warrant of their possessions without a warrant or consent from the individual.or consent from the individual.

Government is restrained from Government is restrained from barraging in on its citizens with no barraging in on its citizens with no just cause.just cause.

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Right to a Fair TrialRight to a Fair Trial

The 6The 6thth Amendment protects the right Amendment protects the right of the citizen to have a fair trial.of the citizen to have a fair trial.

Citizens have the right to have a Citizens have the right to have a speedy public trial with an impartial speedy public trial with an impartial jury of the district in which the jury of the district in which the individual has been accused of the individual has been accused of the crime.crime.

The accused are to have witnesses to The accused are to have witnesses to testify against them and to have a testify against them and to have a process of defense witnesses and a process of defense witnesses and a defense council.defense council.

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Right to VoteRight to Vote

Since America provides the privileges of Since America provides the privileges of democracy to its citizens, the people democracy to its citizens, the people have the right to vote for elected have the right to vote for elected officials through voting elections.officials through voting elections.

The right to vote on the federal level is The right to vote on the federal level is only granted to legal American residents only granted to legal American residents who are guaranteed the benefits that who are guaranteed the benefits that are provided to them.are provided to them.

Few jurisdictions allow for not American Few jurisdictions allow for not American citizens to vote on the local level.citizens to vote on the local level.

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Right to own PropertyRight to own Property

The right to own private property is The right to own private property is part of the means of Americans part of the means of Americans possessing natural rights.possessing natural rights.

Americans are given the right to Americans are given the right to private residence where they are private residence where they are responsible for themselves and their responsible for themselves and their own property.own property.

With this right to own private property, With this right to own private property, one can deny others the ability to one can deny others the ability to invade their personal space without invade their personal space without their consent.their consent.

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Right to become an elected officialRight to become an elected official

All Americans have the right to All Americans have the right to become an elected official as long as become an elected official as long as the fulfill the requirements necessary the fulfill the requirements necessary to take office at a local or federal to take office at a local or federal level.level.

The common age requirement for The common age requirement for becoming a political official is between becoming a political official is between 25 and 30 years old.25 and 30 years old.

One cannot be found guilty of a One cannot be found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony under federal misdemeanor or felony under federal law.law.

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Right to obtain citizenship for Right to obtain citizenship for children abroadchildren abroad

America is considered the land of America is considered the land of opportunity so we grant foreigners opportunity so we grant foreigners the right to obtain American the right to obtain American citizenship.citizenship.

Foreigners must be able to fulfill the Foreigners must be able to fulfill the responsibilities of earning citizenship.responsibilities of earning citizenship.

These responsibilities include taking These responsibilities include taking residence in America for more than residence in America for more than five years before getting citizenship.five years before getting citizenship.

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Right to attend public schoolRight to attend public school

All Americans are given the right to All Americans are given the right to attend public schools.attend public schools.

No American shall be denied No American shall be denied enrollment in public schools for any enrollment in public schools for any reason regardless of if they are reason regardless of if they are undocumented.undocumented.

No body should have to reveal their No body should have to reveal their citizenship status when enrolling in a citizenship status when enrolling in a public school.public school.

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Defend the ConstitutionDefend the Constitution

One of the most important One of the most important responsibilities that we have as responsibilities that we have as Americans is to defend the Americans is to defend the Constitution.Constitution.

This means that we should fight all This means that we should fight all attempts by the federal government attempts by the federal government to violate the Constitution. to violate the Constitution.

Know your rights and vote to keep Know your rights and vote to keep them without compromise.them without compromise.

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Pledge Allegiance to AmericaPledge Allegiance to America

All Americans shall show their All Americans shall show their respect for their country by at the respect for their country by at the very least respecting the ceremonies very least respecting the ceremonies that honor our forefathers and that honor our forefathers and military service men.military service men.

Remain loyal to America and not Remain loyal to America and not betray it during time of crisis or war.betray it during time of crisis or war.

Serving in the armed services is the Serving in the armed services is the greatest display of allegiance to greatest display of allegiance to America.America.

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Obey local, state, and federal Obey local, state, and federal laws.laws.

In order to be able to keep your In order to be able to keep your natural rights, you have to submit to natural rights, you have to submit to all authority including law all authority including law enforcement and federal agents.enforcement and federal agents.

Contempt for laws on all levels will Contempt for laws on all levels will lead to an individual losing their lead to an individual losing their natural rights and subject to penalties natural rights and subject to penalties that include imprisonment. that include imprisonment.

Doing the duty of obeying laws will Doing the duty of obeying laws will allow you receive the benefits of allow you receive the benefits of democracy.democracy.

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Paying taxesPaying taxes

In order to receive the benefits of In order to receive the benefits of certain programs that the federal certain programs that the federal government has provided for the government has provided for the American people, the people have to American people, the people have to pay income taxes on the federal level pay income taxes on the federal level and even the state level if required.and even the state level if required.

Taxes keeps the government running Taxes keeps the government running or we would have anarchy.or we would have anarchy.

Penalties for not paying taxes Penalties for not paying taxes includes imprisonment.includes imprisonment.

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Social Security Social Security

As an insurance policy for those who As an insurance policy for those who will eventually retire, social security will eventually retire, social security is an important asset.is an important asset.

Funded through payroll taxes, social Funded through payroll taxes, social security allows retirees to get a small security allows retirees to get a small monthly check so that they can monthly check so that they can continue to live.continue to live.

When one pays payroll taxes for When one pays payroll taxes for much of their working lives, they can much of their working lives, they can receive the benefits of social security.receive the benefits of social security.

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MedicareMedicare

For retirees, medicare is another For retirees, medicare is another important government asset that in important government asset that in this case, involves health insurance.this case, involves health insurance.

For retirees who receive life-For retirees who receive life-threatening medical conditions, threatening medical conditions, medicare will allow them to get medicare will allow them to get treatment without paying the full treatment without paying the full cost out of pocket.cost out of pocket.

This insures the health of retirees in This insures the health of retirees in the case of severe health problems.the case of severe health problems.

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TravelTravel

Whenever Americans have a Whenever Americans have a passport, they are allowed to safely passport, they are allowed to safely travel throughout the world.travel throughout the world.

Americans are protected from Americans are protected from deportation and can live abroad deportation and can live abroad without losing their American without losing their American citizenship status. citizenship status.

This insure that Americans can keep This insure that Americans can keep their natural rights.their natural rights.

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ConclusionConclusion

As American citizens, it is important As American citizens, it is important to protect your rights. With every vote to protect your rights. With every vote you cast, you can make an impact on you cast, you can make an impact on your country. If you understand your your country. If you understand your rights, you would fight to keep them. rights, you would fight to keep them. If you choose to let the government If you choose to let the government get more involved in your economic get more involved in your economic and personal life, you are and personal life, you are compromising the rights that are compromising the rights that are supposed to be protected.supposed to be protected.

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BibliographyBibliography

““Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities” Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities” USCIS.Gov. Web. 9 January 2013 USCIS.Gov. Web. 9 January 2013

““Bill of Rights” Constitution.Org 24 December Bill of Rights” Constitution.Org 24 December 2000. Web. 9 January 20132000. Web. 9 January 2013

““Citizen Responsibilities” UEN.Org Citizen Responsibilities” UEN.Org ““Benefits of Obtaining United States Citizenship” Benefits of Obtaining United States Citizenship”

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