Rights, Duties, and Responsibilities

Key Terms

Rule of law

Jury of peers

Witnesses

Common good

candidate

Rights of Citizens

Hold elected office.

Freedom of speech or in writing

Freedom of religion

Fair trial

Obeying the law

Society

Classroom

Protect rights

Rule of Law

This concept of a government of laws rather than of men and women.

Officials must make decisions based on law.

No one is above the law.

Laws are public

How does the rule of law help to protect the civil rights of all U.S. citizens?

The rule of law ensures that every citizen follows the same laws and that no one regardless of their position is above the law.

Why is registering for military service and important duty of citizenship?

In case of emergency, we need the military to protect us.

Responsibility- important tasks that a person undertakes.

Concept- general idea.

Prohibit- to forbid by law or by an order.

Conscientious objector- any person who refuses to participate in warfare for moral reasons.

Read Focus OnThe Supreme Court

Focus On

Under what circumstances can the U.S. government limit the civil rights of citizens?

The U.S. government can limit the rights of citizens during wartime.

What civil rights of Japanese Americans did the U.S. limit during World War II?

They lost their rights to personal freedom protected by the Constitution.

Focus On questions

Why did the government feel justified in sending people of Japanese ancestry to internment camps?

The United States government was at war with Japan, and the government worried about the loyalties of Japanese Americans.

Why is this case so relevant as the United States struggles with the threat of terrorism?

The civil rights of innocent Muslim Americans could be limited because of terrorist acts against the United States by extreme Islamic groups.

Civil rights and Guantanamo Bay detainees

Duties of Citizens

Obeying the laws

Defending the nation

Serving on a jury or as a witness in court

Paying taxes

Attending school

Obeying the Laws

Citizenship

That a person has rights developed in ancient Greece.

Back then only free males who owned property could vote.

Slaves and females were excluded.

Full citizenship for the whole population is a much more modern idea.

Serving on a Jury

A basic right is the right of a fair trial.

No person is guilty unless proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Best way to conduct a trial is with citizen participation.

Experts, lawyers, police, psychologists play an important role in a criminal trial.

Experts do not make decisions as to guilt or innocence.

The constitution guarantees a person accused of a crime to have the case decided by a jury of your peers.

Jury of your peersA group of ordinary citizens who hear a case

Decide whether the accused is innocent or guilty.

They hear the evidence

Serving as a Witness

Lawyers on both sides can call witnesses to prove their case.

Witnesses are people whoHave seen events related to the crime.

Have special information to help determine quilt or innocence,

Courts

Criminal trials use witnesses and juries

Citizens may ask the court if their rights have been violated

If they have been treated unfairly.

Two people can settle their disputes

Can call witnesses to testify on their behalf.

It is your duty as a citizen to either serve on a jury or be a witness if requested.

How does the rule of law help to protect the civil rights of all U.S. citizens?

The rule of law ensures that every citizen follows the same law, and that no one, regardless of their position, can be above the law.

Why is registering for military service an important duty of citizenship?

In case of emergency, we need a military to protect us.

How does our legal system ensure a fair trial?

A jury of peers or a group of ordinary people listen to a case to decide guilt or innocence.

Based on evidence rather than opinion about the accused.

What might happen if jury members and witnesses did not uphold their duties in court?

An innocent person could be found guilty and punished for a crime they did not commit.

Paying Taxes

Sales tax, money taken out of your paycheck.

As an adult you will pay taxes as well

Through taxes our local, state and national government raise money to pay for the services citizens ask them to pay for.

What would happen to our society if citizens stopped paying taxes?

The government would no longer be able to provide the services that taxes pay for.

Attending School

Society depends on school to make sure young people are prepared for the future.

School gives students knowledge, skills, experience they need to carry out duties of the “office of citizen”

Why are public officials governed by the same rules as ordinary citizens?

Democratic societies treat all citizens equally. To treat government officials differently from everyone else would be undemocratic.

Responsibilities

Working toward the Common Good

Participating in Election Campaigns

Influencing Government

Serving the Community

Working Toward the Common Good

The basic responsibility of citizensContribute to the common good or

Well being of all members of society

VotingBasic right

We vote for representatives at all levels. President of US to local school board.

Vote on public issues

Holding Government Office

Important part of citizenship.Accept responsibility of learning about issues and trying to make decisions.

Citizen who hold office include:Elected city council members, mayors, governors, and state and national representatives and senators.

Also includes appointed officials

Participating in Election Campaigns

To help a candidate, or person running for political office.

Carrying campaign signs

Stuffing envelopes

Making phone calls

Encourage people to vote for your candidate.

Influencing Government

Persuade government to take actionExpress opinions in a letter

Speaking at public meetings

Create organizations to influence government.

Serving the Community

We should make our communities a better place to live.

Listen and respect the opinion of a person who disagrees with you.

Make a new person feel welcome (student or co-worker)

Citizenship and Our Other Roles in Society

Playing roles

Roles as expected behavior

Level of participation

The Citizens Role

Playing Social Roles

Social roles are the roles we play in real life.

Everyday roles (mom, wife)

Social rolesSocial group, students workers, going out with friends

Citizen RolesInforming yourself

Consumer, friend, citizen, family member, student or worker, social group member

Our Many Social RolesRoles may be required

Some you were born into

Citizen (pay taxes, serve as juror or witness)

Roles as Expected Behaviors

Determined by expectationsMembers of a team wear a uniform

Can be played the way you want to.

Changing RolesBeing friends can change with different friends.

Roles can change overtime

Overlapping RolesFulfill more than one role at a time

Friend and student (studying together)

VolunteersTutoring is a citizen role

Conflicting RolesDemands on your role can conflict

Be aware of your values to guide your behavior.

Level of Participation

Make choices on how much to participate

Those choices may have consequences

When you participate fully you get a better sense of who you are.

The Citizens Role

Paying taxes, obeying the law or running for office.

Active participantsFor some this is a high priority

Plan activities, solve problems, school government

Common goodIt is the overall responsibility of every citizen.

Helping at church

Raising money for charity

Setting PrioritiesInfluenced by age, values, talents, and particular interests.

If you choose not to play the role you give up your voice in government and to make a difference in the community.

What are some of the social roles that you play?

How might your behavior change when you want to become a member of a group?

Why might a person assume different roles in a single day?