do citizens in all countries have the same rights and responsibilities?

Do citizens in all countries have the same rights and responsibilities?

In most countries, aIn most countries, a

CONSTITUTICONSTITUTIONON

is the basic document of citizenship.is the basic document of citizenship.

What is a constitution?

Tells what a country’s values areTells what a country’s values are

Tells how a country’s government Tells how a country’s government operatesoperates

Tells what rights and responsibilities Tells what rights and responsibilities a country’s citizens havea country’s citizens have

A constitution…A constitution…

Let’s see how constitutions from some other countries compare to ours…

Region:Region:

Capital City:Capital City:

Language:Language:

Population:Population:

Area:Area:

AsiaAsia

New DelhiNew Delhi

Hindi & EnglishHindi & English

1.17 billion1.17 billion

3.29 million sq miles3.29 million sq miles

Introducing…Introducing…

Indian Students

Street View

An old palace known as the Taj Mahal

Performers in traditional Indian dress

India has one of the longest

constitutions in the modern

world.

This is only the Preamble! There are 444

articles in the Constitution of India!

It lays out specific rights, much like the

U.S. Constitution.

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

The The UnitUnited ed StStatateses Constitution says: Constitution says:

InIndidia’sa’s Constitution says: Constitution says:

““Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…”speech…”

““All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression;expression;

Nothing…shall…prevent the State from making any law [that] Nothing…shall…prevent the State from making any law [that] imposes reasonable restrictions on [this right] in the interests of imposes reasonable restrictions on [this right] in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, [or] public order, decency, friendly relations with foreign States, [or] public order, decency, or morality…”or morality…”

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press



““Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom.. of the Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom.. of the press…”press…”

““All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression…”expression…”

There is no separate “freedom of the press” There is no separate “freedom of the press” in India’s constitution.in India’s constitution.

““Freedom of speech” works double duty!Freedom of speech” works double duty!

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion



““Subject to public order, morality and health…all persons are Subject to public order, morality and health…all persons are equally entitled to..the right freely to profess, practice, and equally entitled to..the right freely to profess, practice, and propagate religion.”propagate religion.”

““Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Equality Under the LawEquality Under the Law



““No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”equal protection of the laws.”

““The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”

BUT BUT WAIT!WAIT!



““It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…to strive towards to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement…”achievement…”

Should the United States amend its constitution Should the United States amend its constitution to say what India’s constitution says? to say what India’s constitution says?

xx

Region:Region:


Language:Language:


Area:Area:

EuropeEurope

BerlinBerlin

GermanGerman

81.7 million81.7 million

137,846 square miles137,846 square miles


Germans showing their patriotism

A small town in Germany

The large city of Frankfurt

The German National Team (Soccer – they call it Football!)

Germany is made up of many

states, similar to the United

States.

Also like the United States, Germany has a

constitution.



GerGermamany’sny’s Constitution says: Constitution says:


““Every person shall have the right freely to express and Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures and to disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources.”sources.”

““[This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, [This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honor.”to personal honor.”




““Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.


[This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in [This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honor.personal honor.

Whoever abuses the freedom of expression, in particular the freedom of Whoever abuses the freedom of expression, in particular the freedom of the press …in order to combat the free democratic basic order shall the press …in order to combat the free democratic basic order shall forfeit [this] basic right.” forfeit [this] basic right.”



““Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom to profess Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom to profess a religious or philosophical creed, shall be inviolable. The a religious or philosophical creed, shall be inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed.undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed.






““All persons shall be equal before the law.”All persons shall be equal before the law.”


BUT BUT WAIT!WAIT!


““Men and women shall have equal rights. The state shall Men and women shall have equal rights. The state shall promote the actual implementation of equal rights for women and promote the actual implementation of equal rights for women and men and take steps to eliminate disadvantages that now exist.”men and take steps to eliminate disadvantages that now exist.”

Should the United States amend its constitution Should the United States amend its constitution to say what Germany’s constitution says? to say what Germany’s constitution says?

xx


Region:Region:


Language:Language:


Area:Area:

South AmericaSouth America

BrasiliaBrasilia

PortugesePortugese

201 million201 million



Brazilian Students

Iguazu Falls, Brazil

Rio de Janiero, BrazilTraditional Brazilian dress

One of these is to get rid of poverty and reduce social

and regional inequalities.

Brazil’s constitution states

that Brazil has four fundamental

goals…

Citizens celebrate a win on election day

The Brazilian constitution



BrBrazazil’sil’s Constitution says: Constitution says:


“…“…the expression of thought is free, anonymity being forbidden…”the expression of thought is free, anonymity being forbidden…”




“…“…the expression of thought is free, anonymity being forbidden…”the expression of thought is free, anonymity being forbidden…”

Like in India, there is no separate “freedom Like in India, there is no separate “freedom of the press” in Brazil’s constitution.of the press” in Brazil’s constitution.

““Freedom of speech” works double duty!Freedom of speech” works double duty!




““FFreedom of conscience and of belief is inviolable, the free reedom of conscience and of belief is inviolable, the free exercise of religious cults being ensured and, under the exercise of religious cults being ensured and, under the terms of the law, the protection of places of worship and their terms of the law, the protection of places of worship and their rites being guaranteed…” rites being guaranteed…”






““All persons are equal before the law, without any distinction All persons are equal before the law, without any distinction whatsoever…”whatsoever…”


BUT BUT WAIT!WAIT!


““Electoral enrollment and voting are mandatory for persons over Electoral enrollment and voting are mandatory for persons over eighteen years of age [and] optional for: a) the illiterate; b) those eighteen years of age [and] optional for: a) the illiterate; b) those over seventy years of age; c) those over sixteen and under over seventy years of age; c) those over sixteen and under eighteen years of age.”eighteen years of age.”

Should the United States amend its constitution Should the United States amend its constitution to say what Brazil’s constitution says? to say what Brazil’s constitution says?


““The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged…”of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged…”

Region:Region:


Language:Language:


Area:Area:

Middle EastMiddle East

TehranTehran

Persian & TurkicPersian & Turkic




Iranian Students

In the capital, Tehran

Northern Iran

Traditional Persian costumes

Iran’s constitution states that the Qur’an, or holy

book of Islam, is the center of rule

in Iran.

Iranians have the right to vote, just like we do here in

the United States.

Iran’s constitution gives citizens the responsibility to

promote the values of the Islamic faith.

These values include things like wearing modest

clothes, not drinking alcohol, and observing other religious

rules.



IrIraan’sn’s Constitution says: Constitution says:


Iran’s constitution does not say anything about Iran’s constitution does not say anything about individual people having freedom of speech individual people having freedom of speech

““Freedom of the press” must do double-duty…Freedom of the press” must do double-duty…




““Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is where there is infringement of the basic tenets of Islam or public it is where there is infringement of the basic tenets of Islam or public rights. In this respect detailed provisions will be laid down by law.” rights. In this respect detailed provisions will be laid down by law.”




““The official religion of Iran is Islam … and this principle will The official religion of Iran is Islam … and this principle will remain eternally immutable.”remain eternally immutable.”


““Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are the only Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are the only recognized religious minorities, who, within the limits of the law, recognized religious minorities, who, within the limits of the law, are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies…”are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies…”





““All citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy All citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law…” the protection of the law…”


BUT BUT WAIT!WAIT!


““The preservation of the environment … is regarded as a public The preservation of the environment … is regarded as a public duty in the Islamic Republic. Economic and other activities that duty in the Islamic Republic. Economic and other activities that inevitably involve pollution of the environment or cause irreparable inevitably involve pollution of the environment or cause irreparable damage to it are therefore forbidden.”damage to it are therefore forbidden.”

Should the United States amend its constitution Should the United States amend its constitution to say what Iran’s constitution says? to say what Iran’s constitution says?


xx

Region:Region:


Language:Language:


Area:Area:

AfricaAfrica

AccraAccra

English & AkanEnglish & Akan


238,538 square miles238,538 square miles


Ghanaian StudentsCapital of Accra

Elders in traditional Ghanaian dressChildren perform traditional dance

Ghana was the first African

country south of the Sahara

desert to gain its freedom.

Celebrating Ghanaian Independence Day on March 6th!



GhGhanana’sa’s Constitution says: Constitution says:


““All persons shall have the right to…freedom of speech and All persons shall have the right to…freedom of speech and expression… expression…

[But the government may pass laws that are][But the government may pass laws that are] reasonably required for reasonably required for the purpose of safeguarding the people of Ghana against the the purpose of safeguarding the people of Ghana against the teaching … of a doctrine which … encourages disrespect for the teaching … of a doctrine which … encourages disrespect for the nationhood of Ghana, the national symbols and emblems, or incites nationhood of Ghana, the national symbols and emblems, or incites hatred against other members of the communityhatred against other members of the community … …




““All persons shall have the right to freedom of speech and All persons shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media…” media…”


The same restrictions for freedom of speech The same restrictions for freedom of speech also apply to freedom of the press also apply to freedom of the press




““All persons shall have the right to freedom to practice any All persons shall have the right to freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice…”religion and to manifest such practice…”





““All persons shall be equal before the lawAll persons shall be equal before the law .” .”


BUT BUT WAIT!WAIT!


““All persons shall have the right to equal educational opportunities All persons shall have the right to equal educational opportunities and facilities and … basic education shall be free, compulsory and and facilities and … basic education shall be free, compulsory and available to all.”available to all.”

Should the United States amend its constitution Should the United States amend its constitution to say what Ghana’s constitution says? to say what Ghana’s constitution says?

xx


Take a look at your checklists. What similarities and

differences do you see?

do citizens in all countries have the same rights and responsibilities?

Documents

constitution slide

united states constitution

indias constitution

constitution of india

germanys constitution

freedom of speech

press freedom

freedom of religion