Introduction to Citizenship

Citizens Citizens are legal members of a country. Being a citizen includes rights and responsibilities. Good citizens work for the common good- to keep the government going and to protect freedoms over time. To keep our nation strong, Americans need to show patriotism, or love of country.

Rights and Freedoms The first ten amendments (changes) to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights contain the freedoms granted and rights protected to all American citizens. These changes were added in 1789.

1st Amendment Grants freedom of religion, speech, the press, gathering together (assembly), and the right to gather signatures about issues and send them to the government (as a petition).

2nd Amendment Grants the right to keep and carry weapons or arms.

3rd Amendment Protects people from having the military stay in their homes.

4th Amendment Protects people from being searched and having things taken from them, or seized.

5th Amendment Gives every citizen the right to due process of the law. This means that the law must be followed by the government as well as by citizens and that the government must use the law to be fair and treat every person equal under the law. It also says that people can’t be brought to trial twice for the same crime, which is called double jeopardy. The 5th Amendment also protects people from having to speak in court about themselves. This is called “taking the fifth.”

6th Amendment Gives people accused of a crime the right to a trial by jury. It also says that accused people have the right to an attorney (lawyer) and to have others speak for them in court.

7th Amendment Gives the right to a civil trial by jury. Civil law is the kind of law that is not about crimes.

8th Amendment Protects people from excessive bail. Bail is the money that the court can charge to allow an accused person not to go to jail while they are waiting for trial.

9th Amendment

Says that just because a right is not written in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have that right.

10th Amendment Says that any power that is not given to the federal government in the Constitution is given to either the states or to the people.

Responsibilities A citizen should be involved in the community. It is important for citizens to participate in government for our democracy to work. The responsibilities of a citizen: Voting and Politics

Keep informed, vote in elections, join a political party

Laws and Courts

Obey laws, testify in court, serve on a jury

Supporting the Nation

Pay taxes, attend school, serve in the armed forces

Active CitizensCitizens take action to make changes in the government by:

volunteering in political campaigns,

running for public office as the candidate

drafting a petition and getting people to sign it

organizing or participating in peaceful protests