UNITED STATES

CIVICS and CITIZENSHIP

Citizen A citizen is a legally recognized member of a country, who owes loyalty to the government, is entitled to protection from it, and has the right to political participation in it.

CIVICS

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3. Civics is the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

RIGHTS RESPONSIBILITIES

Rights of a U.S. Citizen• Free expression

• Freedom to worship according to your beliefs 

• Trial by jury that is provided promptly and without bias

• Elect public officials through voting

• Run for an elected office

• Apply for employment within federal offices

• “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” uscis.gov

Responsibilities

of U.S. Citizens

• Support and defend the Constitution

• Stay informed of issues affecting your community

• Participate in the democratic process

• Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws

• Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others

• Participate in your local community.

• Pay federal, state, and local income taxes

• Serve on a jury when called upon

• Defend the country if the need should ariseuscis.gov

CategoriesNatural Born

• born in any U.S. state or the District of Columbia

• born in a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa

• born on a U.S. military base

• if one or both parents are U.S. citizens

Naturalized• people born in

foreign countries who choose to become citizens through a legal process

Naturalization ProcessDeclaration of Intention with the U.S. Citizenship

and Immigration Services living in the United States for 5 years; 3 years if

married to a citizenat least 18 years old residence in one state for 3 months complete and submit an application; 10 pages and

$690 interview good moral character citizenship exam testing ability to read, write, and

speak English as well as a basic knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;

oath of allegiance

Oath of Allegiance

Loss of CitizenshipDenaturalizati

on• fraud or deception

Expatriation• giving up citizenship by leaving the U.S. and becoming a naturalized citizen of a foreign country

Punishment for a Crime• conviction of certain federal crimes that involve disloyalty (treason, rebellion, attempt to overthrow the government through violence)

Native Americans

• citizens of their tribe, living within the boundaries of the U.S. 

• part of the land would be "reserved" exclusively for the tribe's use (reservation)

• under the reservation American Indians kept their citizenship in their sovereign tribes

• reservations were devised to encourage the Indians to live within clearly defined zones

• The Dawes Act of 1887 designed to encourage the breakup of the tribes and promote the assimilation of Indians into American Society

• offer Indians the benefits of U.S. citizenship — if they took the land allotment, lived separate from the tribe and became "civilized" 

• 1919 - citizenship granted to Indian veterans of World War I who were not yet citizens

• 1924 - citizenship granted to all Native Americans Nebraskastudies.org

Aliens: non-

citizens

Illegal• undocumented immigrant,

illegal immigrant, undocumented alien, unauthorized migrant, illegal migrant, illegal alien, migrant, or undocumented worker

• > 11 million in the U.S.legal• > 29 million total• resident alien: from a

foreign country who has established permanent residence in the U.S.

• Non-resident alien: from a foreign country who expects to stay in the US. for a short, specified time

• worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants

• 1. reunification of families

• 2. admitting immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy

• 3. protecting refugees  

Immigrationpolicy.org

EXIT TicketLook at the lists of rights and responsibilities from your notes. Choose the one from each list you believe to be most important and explain the reasons you think so.

1. The most important right is _________ because __________2. The most important responsibility is ___________ because __________

EXIT Ticket3. In your opinion, what three things should people who want to become citizens know about the U.S.?Be sure to explain both what and why they should know these things. Be specific for each item on your list.