YES
1. Defend the nation
2. Vote
3. Volunteer
4. Respect the rights
of others
5. Learn about national
and local issues/Be
informed
NO
Obey traffic laws
Jury Duty
Pay taxes
Obey criminal
laws
Compulsory
education
Civic Duty: The responsibilities
of a citizen
American Rights
• The Bill of Rights
– First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution
– Deals with individual rights and
freedoms
• Why was it created?
– The Bill of Rights were added to the constitution
because the states were afraid that the government
would become too powerful and infringe on their
rights.
– States refused to ratify the Constitution without some
guarantee that would protect individual rights. Why?
There are two ways to amend
the constitution.
–Yet the most common way to
amend the constitution is a
2/3 approval in both houses
of congress then approved
by ¾ of the states.
Do you have your rights all
of the time?
• The Bill of Rights allows
citizens the freedom to live
as you please as long as
you obey the laws and
respect the rights of
others.
Year:
1789
The Right to Vote
1800-50:
1870:
1920:
1971:
(26th)
People allowed to vote
Property owning white males
over 21
White men over 21
Men over 21 (15th amend)
th
Men and women over 21 (19 )
Men and women over 18
Citizen Participation in an
Absolute Monarchy
• What is an absolute monarchy?
– Single person (monarch) is head of state and
has complete power
• What role do citizens play in an absolute
monarchy?
• Decline in absolute monarchies after the
French and American Revolutions.
– Why?
Citizen Participation in a
Constitutional Monarchy
• What is a constitutional monarchy?
– “The Queen reigns but does not rule”
• What does this mean?
– A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in
which a king or queen reigns with limits to their power
along with a governing body
• What country is an example of this?
• Monarchy may be hereditary or elected
• What role do citizens play in a constitutional
monarchy?
Citizen Participation
in a Parliamentary
Democracy
• What is a parliamentary democracy?
– parliamentary democracy is one in which the people choose
representatives at regular elections. These representatives are
responsible for a number of functions:
• the formation of the government. This is achieved by majority vote in
the lower house
• the passage of legislation (the laws of the nation) by majority vote of
the Parliament
• The scrutiny and monitoring of the executive government, the public
service and other authorities and institutions created by Parliament.
Most importantly, this scrutiny extends to monitoring the expenditure
of public (taxpayers') money.
What role do citizens play in a parliamentary democracy?
Citizen Participation in a
Presidential Democracy
• What is a presidential democracy?
– A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a
system of government where an executive branch exists and
presides (hence the term) separately from the legislature, to which
it is not accountable and which cannot in normal circumstances
dismiss it.
– What does this mean?
• How is it different from a parliamentary democracy?
– Separation of powers
• What role do citizens play in a presidential democracy?
Citizen Participation in a
Dictatorship
• What is a dictatorship?
– A dictatorship is a form of government where
one person (a dictator) reigns supreme
– Usually rules by force/fear
– Not accountable to people or for their policies
• What role do citizens play in a
dictatorship?
Citizen Participation in a
Theocracy
• What is a theocracy?
– A theocracy is a government in which the
leaders are seen as “divinely guided”
– May be ruled by clergy and state’s law may be
based on religious law
• Self appointed rulers
• What role do citizens play in a
theocracy?
1.What rights do you have as a
U.S. citizen?
2.What responsibilities do you
have as a U.S. citizen?
3.What does it mean to be an
American citizen?