Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Chapter 5

Section 1

Responsibilities v. Duties

• Each of us belongs to many communities. As community members, we have responsibilities–things we should do or obligations that we fulfill voluntarily.

• We also have duties–things we are required to do.

Legal Duties

• We must fulfill duties required by national, state, and local governments or face fines or imprisonment.

• 5 Legal Duties

Duty #1: Obey the Law

• Laws serve specific purposes, such as to help people get along, prevent accidents, and see that resources are used fairly.

Duty #2: Pay Taxes• Government uses tax money to pay

police, pave roads, maintain armed forces, and other activities.

• Income taxes are a percentage of what people earn

• People also pay taxes on the sale of goods and services and on property.

Duty #3: Defend the Nation

• In the United States, all men aged 18–25 must register with the government in case the country needs to draft, or call up, men for military service.

• 30 days before or after your 18th birthday.• Service is currently voluntary.• Selective Service Website

Duty #4: Serve in Court

• Every adult citizen must be prepared to serve on a jury or as a witness at a trial if called to do so.

• Anyone who holds a drivers license or who is registered to vote can be randomly selected.

Duty #5: Attend School

• Most states require young people to attend school until age 16.

• How does staying in school benefit you and the government?

Civic Responsibilities:Be Informed

• Know what the government is doing so that you can voice your opinion.

• You can learn about issues and leaders by reading print publications, listening to news on the radio or TV, talking to people, and searching the Internet.

• Fox News or CNN

Civic Responsibilities:Speak up and Vote

• Government exists to serve you, but you must make your concerns known.

• Call, write, or send e-mail to your elected representatives. Sen. Burr

• Join a political party or work for a cause.• Above all, vote. Give consent to

government.

• Study candidates and issues before marking your ballot

Civic Responsibilities:Respect Others’ Rights

• Respect public property and the property of others.

• Vandalism and littering are not only disrespectful, but are also crimes.

Civic Responsibilities:Respect Diversity

• Although you may disagree with people or disapprove of their lifestyles, they have an equal right to their beliefs and practices.

• Tolerance means respecting and accepting others, regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences.

• All citizens are equal and entitled to be treated the same.

Civic Responsibilities:Contribute to the Common Good• Contribute time, effort, and money to help

others and to improve community life.

• Be an active participant in your community.

Discussion Question

What do you think is the most important responsibility of citizens? Explain.

Review

Which of the following is NOT a voluntary obligation of citizenship?

• A. respect others’ rights

• B. attend school

• C. be informed

• D. speak up and vote

Review

Which of the following is NOT a legal duty of citizenship?

• A. contribute to the common good

• B. serve in court

• C. defend the nation

• D. pay taxes

Review

Since the end of the Vietnam War, there has been no

• A. standing army.

• B. draft.

• C. volunteer navy.

• D. war tax.

Review

Good citizens are concerned about the _________of the community.

• A. status

• B. welfare

• C. opinion

• D. wealth

Review

How do Americans give their consent to the government?

• A. obeying laws

• B. volunteerism

• C. jury duty

• D. voting

Citizens and the community

Section 2

Citizens Involvement

• More than half a million Americans do volunteer work to help better their community

• Federal, state, and local government provide many different services. Therefore we rely on government for a lot of things

Citizens Involvement

• Citizens also share a role in meeting community needs.

• The governments are bureaucracies= Complex systems with many departments, many rules, and many people in the chain of command.

Citizen Involvement• Good citizens are concerned about the

Welfare of all members of the community

• Welfare= The health, prosperity, and happiness of all members of a community.

• JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”

Donating Time and money

• In what ways do you volunteer?

• Volunteerism= the practice of offering your time and services to others without payment.

• Americans gave more than $250 billion dollars to charity. 2% of their salary.

Community Involvement

• Joining a community watch program.

• Become active in their child’s school

• Lions and Kiwanis clubs

• Religious communities

Charitable Organizations

• More than 1 million charities are officially registered with the federal government

School-based Programs

• High school and middle school offers opportunities for community service.

• Some states require that students do so many hours of community service in order to graduate.

National Service Programs

• AmeriCorps= members help meet the nation’s needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.

• Senior Corps= Provides volunteer opportunities to Americans aged 55 or older

• USA Freedom Corps= Responds to national emergencies, rebuilding our communities, and extending American compassion throughout the world.