ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What are the rights and
responsibilities of a
citizen?
There are six ways to
show good citizenship:
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Caring
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Honesty
Courage
CARING
• Think about what
someone else needs.
• How is the person in
blue in the picture
showing that she
cares?
RESPECT
• Treat others as you
would want to be
treated and welcome
differences among
people.
RESPONSIBILITY
• Do what you are
suppose to do and
think before you act.
• How do you act
responsibly at home?
At school?
FAIRNESS
• Take turns and follow
the rules. Listen to
other people and treat
them fairly.
• Why is it important to
take turns and follow
the rules
HONESTY
• Tell the truth and do
what you say you will
do.
• Describe some of the
problems that could
occur if a person does
not tell the truth.
COURAGE
• Do what is right even
when the task might be
hard.
• What do you think the
girl has done that took
courage?
UNDERSTANDING THE
CONSTITUTION
• At the end of the
American Revolution the
people wanted to set up a
new government called a
republic that would limit
government power.
UNDERSTANDING THE
CONSTITUTION
• This government became
the new constitution.
• Three branches of
government were set up
with a system of checks
and balances.
Separation of Powers
This separation balances the branches of government and keeps any
one of them from growing too powerful.
Legislative
Branch
Executive Branch
• Writes laws
• Proposes and
administers laws
• Confirms presidential
appointments
• Commands armed
forces
• Approves treaties
• Appoints officials
• Grants money
• Conducts foreign
policy
• Declares war
• Makes treaties
Judicial Branch
• Interprets
Constitution and
other laws
• Reviews lower-court
decisions
THE BILL OF RIGHTS
• Established after the new
Constitution was established.
• The first 10 amendments
were to protect the rights of
citizens.
Who determines what the
Bill of Rights mean?
• The Supreme Court makes rulings on
the meaning
• The Supreme Court balances the rights
of the individual with the needs of
society
Individual??
Society??
The Bill of Rights
The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution
• Take notes on the
slides as they
appear.
• Draw pictures to
represent at least
four of the
amendments.
1st Amendment
• The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of
religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition.
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This means that we all have the right to:
practice any religion we want to
to speak freely
to assemble (meet)
to address the government (petition)
to publish newspapers, TV, radio, Internet (press)
2nd Amendment
• The 2nd
Amendment
protects the right
to bear arms, which
means the right to
own a gun.
3rd Amendment
• The 3rd Amendment says “No soldier
shall, in time of peace be quartered in
any house, without the consent of the
owner, nor in time of war, but in a
manner to be prescribed by law.”
• This means that we cannot be forced to
house or quarter soldiers.
4th Amendment
• The 4th Amendment protects the people
from unreasonable searches and seizures.
• This means that the police must have a
warrant to enter our homes. It also means
the government cannot take our property,
papers, or us, without a valid warrant based
on probable cause (good reason).
5th Amendment
• The 5th Amendment protects people from
being held for committing a crime unless
they are properly indicted, (accused)
• You may not be tried twice for the same
crime (double jeopardy)
• You don’t have to testify against yourself
in court. (Self-incrimination)
6th Amendment
• The 6th Amendment
guarantees a speedy trial
(you can’t be kept in jail for
over a year without a trial)
• an impartial jury (doesn’t
already think you are guilty)
• that the accused can
confront witnesses against
them
• the accused must be allowed
to have a lawyer
7th Amendment
• The 7th Amendment guarantees the
right to a speedy civil trial.
• A civil trial differs from a criminal trial. A
civil trial is when someone sues
someone else. A criminal trial is when
the state tries to convict someone of a
crime.
8th Amendment
• The 8th Amendment guarantees that
punishments will be fair
and not cruel, and that
extraordinarily large fines
will not be set.
9th Amendment
• All rights not stated in the Constitution
and not forbidden by the Constitution
belong to the people.
• This means that the states can do what
they want if the Constitution does not
forbid it.
10th Amendment
• The 10th Amendment states that any
power not granted to the federal
government belongs to the states or
to the people.
8.3.6
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
FACT
American citizenship involves great privileges
and serious responsibilities.
• Citizenship in the United States is determined in several ways.
• Citizens are expected to fulfill a number of important duties.
• Active citizen involvement in government and the community is
encouraged.
• The way the members of a group use their rights and carry out
their responsibilities.
Rights
• A right is something that is
owed a person.
• At school, you have the right to
learn.
Responsibilities
• A responsibility is something a person
must do.
• I am responsible for being quiet while
the teacher is talking.
Rights or Responsibility?
• Can you list some rights you have?
• Can you list some responsibilities
you have at home, at school, and on
teams?
Citizenship
• Can you list some ways the members
of a community show good
citizenship?
Citizenship in the United States
is determined in several ways
• Anyone born in the United States or U.S. territory is a citizen, as is anyone
whose parent is a citizen.
• Foreign-born people whose parents are not citizens can become
naturalized citizens.
• Legal immigrants may not vote or hold public office; the U.S. government
can deport immigrants who break the law.
• Legal immigrants may request naturalization after living in the United States
for five years.
• Naturalized citizens cannot become president or vice president and can
lose their citizenship.
Becoming a Citizen
To become a citizen, one must:
– Be over 18 and support themselves financially or have
someone assume financial responsibility for them
– Be law-abiding and support the U.S. Constitution
– Demonstrate understanding of written and spoken English
– Show basic knowledge of U.S. history and government
– Go before a naturalization court and take an oath of allegiance
to the United States.
Citizens are expected to fulfill
a number of important duties.
• For a representative democracy to work, Americans need to fulfill
their civic duties.
• Duties include
– Participating in elections
– Obeying laws
– Paying taxes
– Defending the nation
• Men over 18 may be required to serve in the military in the
event of a draft.
– Serving on juries
Active citizen involvement in government and the
community is encouraged.
• Taking part in the elections process by voting may be a citizen’s
most vital duty.
• Citizens should be informed about issues and candidates before
voting.
• Americans may choose to campaign for candidates or issues.
• Many people help campaigns by giving money to political action
committees (PACs).
Americans can influence government
and help the community.
• Work with interest groups, groups of people who share a
common interest that motivates them to take political action
• Write letters to government leaders
• Attend city council meetings
• Volunteer for community service groups
– Neighborhood watch groups can help the police.
– American Red Cross helps people in times of natural disasters
and other emergencies.
– Girl and Boy Scouts can help the environment and their
community.