EOC Review
WEEK 2
Day 1
Citizenship
 All persons born or naturalized in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of
the United States and of the state wherein they
reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens
of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. – U.S.
Constitution, Amendment XIV, Section 1 (1868)
 The Constitution was adopted in 1789 but did not
include a definition of citizenship.
 The 14th amendment, adopted in 1868, finally
defined who a citizen was.
 It defines citizenship as anyone who is born in the
U.S. or naturalized.
Natural Born Citizens
 Law of Blood: if you are not born in the U.S. but one
of your parents is a citizen.
 Law of Soil: when you are born in the U.S., a U.S.
territory, or a U.S. military base.
Naturalization Requirements
 If an immigrant wants to become a citizen they must:
 Be at least 18
 Been a resident for 5 years
 Read, write, and speak English
 Have a knowledge of American History and the Constitution
 Be of good moral character
Impact of Naturalization
 The increase of immigrants who become citizens
leads them to become more involved in the political
process.
Obligations of Citizens
 An obligation is an action that a citizen is required to
fulfill by law.
 The obligations of citizens include:
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Obeying laws
Paying taxes
Defending the nation
Registering for selective service
Serving on juries
Responsibilities of Citizens
 A responsibility is an action that a citizen should
take for the sake of the common good.
 Responsibilities of Citizens include:
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Voting
Attending civics meetings
Petitioning the government
Running for office
Performing community service
Guiding Question
 1. For what purpose do citizens complete their
responsibilities and obligations?
The Bill of Rights
 The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution
 These amendments define individual freedoms,
rights of those accused of a crime, and protections
from the federal government.
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It was added in 1791 (two years after the Constitution was
ratified)
The First Amendment
 Freedom of speech
 Freedom of the press
 Freedom of religion
 Freedom to assemble
 Freedom to petition the government
Parts of the Bill of Rights
 There are three categories of rights (freedoms and
protections listed in the Bill of Rights)
 1) Individual freedoms in the 1st
amendment:
 Free speech, press, religion, assembly, and
petition
 2) Rights of the accused:
 Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
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Due Process
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Plead the 5th. Do not have to testify against yourself.
No Double Jeopardy
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Natural rights cannot be taken w/0 appropriate legal procedure
Protection from self-incrimination
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Police must have probable cause/warrant
Cannot be tried twice for the same crime
Trial by Jury
No cruel and unusual punishment
 3) Protection from Government abuse
 Property rights
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Eminent domain: the government has to pay citizens fairly if they
take their property
Voting rights (suffrage)
15th : African Americans
 19th : Women
 24th : No more poll tax
 26th : 18 and older
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The right to protect oneself
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Right to bear arms
 The Supreme Court evaluates rights and their limits.
They define how far our rights go.
Protection of Rights
 The U.S. government wants to keep the rights of its
citizens safe.
 Some of these protections include:
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Habeas Corpus: the government must day why they are
holding you
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No Ex post fact laws: a law that makes an act a crime after the
crime has been committed.
Limits on Rights
 Our rights are not limitless.
 There must be a balance between individual rights
and the common good.
 Your rights end where others’ begin!
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As long as your freedom does not threaten the common good.
 Listed below are additional conditions used to limit
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freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
1) Clear and Present Danger – Will this act of speech
create a dangerous situation?
2) Fighting Words – Will this act of speech create a
violent situation?
3) Libel – Is this information false?
4) Conflict with Government Interests – During
times of war the government may limit acts of speech
due to national security.
Guiding Question
 Why is protecting the rights of citizens important?