Rights, Responsibilities and Participation

Aim:

• Identify key rights and responsibilities which US citizens have.

• Examine the different ways that US citizens can participate in politics.

Success Criteria:• You can complete a table showing key rights

and responsibilities.• Describe four ways that US citizens can

participate in politics.

Democracy

• The USA is a democratic country – all citizens have rights and responsibilities.

• A right is a freedom that is protected.• A responsibility is a duty or

something that someone should do.• The first ten amendments to the US

constitution is known as the Bill of Rights.

Rights of US Citizens Responsibilities of US Citizens

The rights to vote in elections e.g. for their President.

The right to freedom of speech e.g. speak out about an issue you feel strongly about.

Right to bear arms e.g. to use a gun in self-defence.

Right to a fair trial if you are accused of a crime.

Right of assembly e.g. to protest peacefully about an issue

Recent Criticisms

• Members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) are concerned about President Obama’s proposals for tougher gun control.

• Obama was also criticised for his healthcare reforms – the government was interfering too much in peoples’ lives.

• Some groups oppose the use of the death penalty, the sentencing of juvenile offenders to life without the possibility of parole and long sentences for low level drug offences – these are issues which are the responsibility of the state.

Task:

• In any democratic country there are many ways that people can participate in politics.

• With a partner try to come up with SIX examples of political participation.

Take part in a protest or

demonstration

Join a political

party

Stand as a candidate

Campaign for a political party

How Can Americans Participate In Politics?

Voting for a

Candidate

Join An Interest Group

Voting in the USA

In order to In order to vote in US elections you must: in US elections you must:

• Be a US citizenBe a US citizen• Be a resident of the state you are planning to Be a resident of the state you are planning to

register in.register in.• Be 18 years of ageBe 18 years of age• Be registered to vote – each state has a slightly Be registered to vote – each state has a slightly

different registration procedure. It usually different registration procedure. It usually involves filling in some kind of form.involves filling in some kind of form.

Voting At Elections

Americans have many opportunities to vote for a Americans have many opportunities to vote for a candidate in elections:candidate in elections:

Federal Level -- President, Senators, Senators,

Congressmen/womenCongressmen/womenState Level -- State Assembly, GovernorState Assembly, GovernorLocal Level -- Mayor, Sheriff, Dog Mayor, Sheriff, Dog

CatcherCatcher

A single voter may be able to vote for up to thirty A single voter may be able to vote for up to thirty officials and representatives at one election!!officials and representatives at one election!!

Interest Groups

US citizens can also belong to interest US citizens can also belong to interest groupsgroups..

Interest groups try to persuade try to persuade politicians to change the law by showing politicians to change the law by showing they have great public support for their causethey have great public support for their cause

Examples of US Interest Groups: National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle AssociationAmerican Medical AssociationAmerican Medical AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association

In the UK we use the name In the UK we use the name PRESSUREGROUPS.

Methods Used By Interest Methods Used By Interest GroupsGroups

• Write to Congressman/woman or Senators.Write to Congressman/woman or Senators.• Lobby your Congressman/women or Lobby your Congressman/women or

Senator (this means get them to support Senator (this means get them to support your cause).your cause).

• Write to newspapersWrite to newspapers• Contribute to a website/Facebook Contribute to a website/Facebook

page/Twitterpage/Twitter• Take part in a protest or demonstrationTake part in a protest or demonstration• Sign a petitionSign a petition• Pay for TV advertsPay for TV adverts

Task:

Read pages 15-17 of your World Powers textbook.

1. Make a list of the main ways that US citizens can participate in politics?

2. What is an interest group and what methods do they use to get people to support their cause?

3. Give examples of the representatives that US citizens can vote for at

a) Federal levelb) State levelc) Local level.

Participation in Elections – Voter Turnout

Aims:• Identify the reasons why ethnic minorities

are less likely to participate in elections.• Examine the evidence that ethnic minority

participation is starting to increase.

Success Criteria:• You can devise a revision technique to help

you remember key reasons for lower participation.

Voter Turnout

• In the UK, people are included on the electoral register as soon as they are 18 years old.

• However in the USA, voters have to register before they can vote – they are not automatically included.

• Even when people are registered to vote, ethnic minority groups are less likely to be involved in politics – as voters, campaigners or as candidates.

Task:

• Study the reasons for lower levels of participation among ethnic minority groups.

• Devise a MNEUMONIC to help you remember as many of these reasons as possible.

• Your mneumonic must included at least one social, economic and political reason.

Increasing Minority Participation

• More ethnic minorities are achieving greater success in education.

• More role models from minority groups e.g. President Obama.

• More TV channels broadcasting in minority languages.

• Voting campaigns to encourage people to vote e.g. Vote or Die Campaign

• TV campaigns backed by celebrities encouraging minority groups to vote.

• Easier registration e.g. online registration.