Citizenship: How Do You Make A Wise Decision?

Preparing for Santa Clara County Superior Courtroom Visit

You Have a Decision to Make

• For American democracy to work, citizens must carry out important personal and civic responsibilities.

These are your responsibilities as a U.S. citizen.• Receive an

education• Obey rules

and laws• Pay taxes• Vote• Serve on a jury• Serve in the

military• Stay informed

about issues

How Do You Make Wise Decisions?

Being a U.S. citizen involves making important decisions.

• As a voter, whom should you vote for? • As a juror, should you find the defendant

guilty or not guilty? • As an informed citizen, should you support or

oppose a proposed government action?

How Do You Make Wise Decisions?

It’s important to make responsible decisions that affect fellow citizens (as they do in a courthouse).

Can you think of examples of how decisions affect fellow citizens?

How Do You Make Wise Decisions?

Unlike decisions about which video to rent, civic decisions cannot be made by a process as easy as tossing a coin. Instead, you should use a problem-solving approach like the one you’re about to see.

Good Citizenship Skills

• Good citizenship skills include staying informed, solving problems or making decisions and taking action.

Good Citizenship Skills

• Identify the problem• Gather Information• Analyze the Information• Consider Options• Choose a Solution• Implement the Solution• Implement the Solution• Evaluate the Solution

Good Citizenship Skills

• Identify the problem– Decide what the main issues are and what your

goal is

Good Citizenship Skills

• Gather information– Get to know the basics of the problem. Find out

as much as possible about the issues.

Good Citizenship Skills

• Analyze the information– Look at the information and determine what it

reveals about solving the problem

Good Citizenship Skills

• Consider options– Think of as many ways as possible to solve the

problem. Don’t be afraid to include ideas that others might think are unacceptable.

Good Citizenship Skills

• Choose a solution– Choose the solution you believe will best solve the

problem and help you reach your goal.

Good Citizenship Skills

• Implement the solution– Take action or plan to take

action on a chosen solution

Raise Money

Raise Awareness

Write Letters to Leaders

Good Citizenship Skills

• Evaluate the solution– Review the results of putting

your solution into action. • Did the solution work? • Do you need to adjust the solution in some way.?

Your Decisions Affect Others

When living up to your civic responsibilities, the decisions you make will affect you and your fellow citizens, so:

• Know your rights• Be responsible• Stay informed• Make good decisions• Participate in your community