Chapter 1
Foundations of
American Citizenship
What is civics?
– Civics is the
study of the rights
and duties of
citizens.
• Rights-privileges
guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution.
• Duties-things you
are required to do
by law.
Who Are American Citizens?
•
•
born in the 50 states or the
territories
(Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S.
Virgin Islands, or the
American Samoa)
born to a U.S. citizen (May
have dual citizenship)
•
Anyone who has
successfully completed the
naturalization process
A Diverse America
• USA = a nation of immigrants
• Forced immigration = Slaves
• Recently most have come from
Central America or Asia
• “Salad Bowl” Theory
Middle Passage
Between 1619 and 1808
500,000 Africans made the
journey
• America has
experienced many
different migrations- a
mass movement of
people within the
country
 From farms to the
industrial jobs of the
cities (mid 1800s)
 African-Americans
moving from the South
to the North after the
Civil War (late 1800s)
 From Cities to suburbs
(1950s to present)
 From Northeast to
South and West (1980s
to present)
A Changing America
A “More-changing” America
• Manufacturing economy
to a SERVICE economy
• The average age of
Americans is climbing
and people are having
fewer children
• Record number of
Americans are going to
college
• Hispanic-Americans are
now the fastest growing
group in America
2010 Census Percentages
• America’s estimated population in 2010: 308, 745, 538
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White: 63.7%
Black or African American: 12.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7%
Asian: 4.7%
Native Hawaiian an other Pacific Islander: 0.15%
Two or more races: 1.9%
Some other race: 0.2%
Hispanic or Latino: 16.3%
2012 American Population: 313, 914, 040
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau: National Population Estimates; Decennial Census)
What Brings America Together?
1) American values (freedom, justice,
equality, respect, tolerance)
2) A common language (English)
3) Traditional American Institutions:
-Family
-Religion
-Education
-Social
-Government
Aliens In America
• Limits on immigration
• ~675,000 accepted
• Priority: relatives already here & special
skills
Legal Aliens
• Here from another
country…with permission
• Why USA???
– Jobs
– schools
• Function like “citizen” with
limitations
• Must pay taxes
Legal Aliens vs. American Citizens
• Legal Aliens:
– Can’t vote or run for office
– No jury duty
– Can’t hold government
jobs
– Must always carry an
identification card to
prove their legal status
(green card)
Illegal Aliens
• ~5 to 6 million people per
year enter illegally
• Most risk capture and
terrible conditions to
sneak across the border
• Seek a better life
• Illegal to hire
• Face deportation
How to become a Citizen?
• Jus Sanguinis (Right of Blood)
– One parent is a U.S. Citizen, birthplace does not matter
• Jus Soli (Right of Birthplace)
– If child is born in the U.S., even if parents are illegal immigrants
• Naturalization
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18 years old
Permanent U.S. residency for 5 years, or if married to a U.S. citizen, 3 years
Good moral character
Read, write, speak English (some exceptions for Senior adults)
Citizenship test
Oath of Allegiance
File
Application
for
citizenship
Pass
Citizenship
Exam
Declaration
of
Intention
Pledge
OATH
to
USA
INS
Interview
File
With
INS
Quiz Time!
• Take out a sheet of paper and number 110
• These are actual questions from the U.S.
Citizenship Test
• Candidates must answer 6 out of 10
correctly to gain citizenship
Questions 1-5
•
•
1. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is
one power of the states?
A. to create an army
B. to make treaties
C. to provide schooling and education
D. to print money
2. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who
becomes President?
A. the Commander in Chief of the military
B. an election is held to vote for a new President
C. the President pro tempore of the Senate
D. the Speaker of the House of Representatives
3. We elect a President for how many years?
A. 3
B. 6
C. 4
D.5
4. Name one war fought by the United States in
the 1800s.
A. Spanish-American War
B. Gulf War
C. Indian-American War
D. Canadian-American War
5. Who was President during the Great
Depression and World War II?
A. George Bush
B. Woodrow Wilson
C. Franklin Roosevelt
D. Abraham Lincoln
Questions 6-10
•
6. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
A. Thomas Jefferson
B. Abraham Lincoln
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. George Washington
9. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
A. fought for women rights
B. fought for civil rights
C. worked for capitalism
D. fought for environment protection
•
7. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
A. Pacific Ocean
B. Arctic Ocean
C. Mediterranean Sea
D. Atlantic Ocean
10. What is the economic system in the United States? *
A. market economy
B. socialism economy
C. government-managed economy
D. federal economy
•
8. Why do some states have more Representatives than
other states?
A. because they have more people
B. because they are larger by land area
C. because they are larger by land and water area
D. because they have more rich people
Why do we need Government?
• Ruling authority for a community
• Makes and enforces laws
• Thomas Hobbes believed that without
a government, we would have to
compete for resources, territory, and
power
• Governments make it possible to live
together peacefully and productively
Functions of Governments
1) KEEP ORDER
- Establish courts to settle disputes
- Pass and enforce laws
Functions of Governments
2) PROVIDE SERVICES
• Libraries
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Parks
• Water, electricity, sewer, gas
• Fire/police departments
Functions of Governments
3) GUIDE THE COMMUNITY
• Manage the economy
(budget)
• Conduct foreign relations
Functions of Governments
4) PROVIDE SECURITY
• Prevent crime
• Protect from foreign attacks
Levels of Government
National (United States)
State (North Carolina)
Local
County (Alamance)
City or Town (Mebane)
Village
Types of Governments
• Direct Democracy- all citizens debate
and vote on key issues
Types of Governments
• Representative Democracy (also known
as a Republic)- citizens choose a smaller
group to make laws and govern for them
Types of Governments
• Constitutional Monarchy- A country with
a hereditary leader that must follow all
laws and restrictions within a constitution
Types of Governments
• Absolute Monarchy- A country with a
hereditary ruler who has complete control
over the country
Types of Governments
• Dictatorship- A country ruled by a single
person who uses force and fear to stay in
power, usually with the control of the
military
Types of Governments
• Totalitarianism- Any government that tries
to completely control every aspect of its
citizens lives
Authoritarian Governments
• Includes Absolute monarchies, dictatorships,
and totalitarian states
• Rulers inherit positions or take them by force
• Ruler have unlimited powers and the
government may impose anything it wants on
the citizens
• The government relies on control of the media,
propaganda, military and police power, and
terror to control people
• Power is in the hands of one party or leader
DEMOCRACIES
Fair Elections
Limited Power
Protect citizens’
rights &
freedoms
Rule of Law
Principles of American Democracy
1)Rule of Law• All people, including those who govern,
are bound by the law
Principles of American Democracy
2)Limited Government• Government is not all powerful-it may do
only those things that the people have
given it the power to do
Principles of American Democracy
3)Consent of the Governed• American citizens are the source of all
government power
Principles of American Democracy
4)Individual Rights• In the American democracy, individual
rights are protected by the government
Principles of American Democracy
5)Representative Government• People elect government leaders to make
the laws and govern on their behalf