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.
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 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.