U.

S GOVERNMENT – CITIZENSHIP
12/7-8/2024

Purpose
In this activity you will examine the meaning of citizenship and how one
becomes a citizen of the United States. You will examine the rights of
citizens as well as the responsibilities that accompany our citizenship in this
nation. Finally, you will develop positions on what a citizen might do when
he or she thinks that a law is unjust.

Objectives
When you finish this activity, you should be able to

 explain the meaning of citizenship and how one becomes a

citizen of the United States and
 explain some of the rights of citizens and the responsibilities
that accompany those rights.

Terms to Understand
 citizen: A person who is a legal member of a nation, country, or
other self-governing community
 civic responsibilities: Obligations that each person has to
society
 economic rights: Rights essential to citizens that allow them to
earn a living, to acquire and transfer property, and to produce, buy,
and sell goods and services in open and free markets
 legal permanent resident: A person who is not a citizen, but
who legally lives in the United States. Legal permanent residents
enjoy most of the rights of citizens. They have the same right to due
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process of law as citizens, they must pay taxes, and they may serve
in the military.
 test on the Constitution and the history of the United States and
swear an oath of loyalty to their new country
 personal responsibilities: Obligations that each person
assumes individually
 political rights: All rights of a citizen in a free society that are
clearly expressed and guaranteed by the Constitution and implied by
natural laws.

 A citizen is a person who is a legal member of a self-governing

community, such as a nation or state. In the United States, there are
no degrees or classes of citizenship. In this country, citizenship does
not depend on a person’s race, gender, or ethnic origin. Every citizen
is a full member of the political community.

 Write a short hypothetical story using each of the terms to understand

listed above. Think about the terms to understand listed above and respond
below. (Your response should only fit onto this page and be at least 10
sentences long. Minimum font is 12)

There is a resident that is a legal member of society who suddenly

doesn't follow their Civic Responsibilities and gets deported. So then
this Citizen decides to use their Political Rights to have a Legal
Permanent Resident but in order for them to have that they would
have to take a test, the Naturalization Test. Which would permit
them to have Economic Rights to be a functioning Citizen again, and
have to follow the Civic Responsibilities again.
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What Does It Mean to Be a Citizen?

 A citizen is one person among equals. Each citizen possesses equal
rights under the law. In addition, our rights as citizens come with
certain responsibilities. It is also important to remember that under
our federal system, Americans are citizens of both their state and the
United States.
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1. What is a citizen? 2. Should some

citizens have more rights than others?
Why or why not?
Think about the above questions and respond below. (Your response should only fit onto this
page, and be at least 10 sentences long. Minimum font is 12)
1. a citizen is a legal member of society which all guaranteed rights
of the nation and all the states regardless of sex or ethnicity

2. some citizens should not have moire rights than other citizens
because all legal citizens are considered to have equal rights under
the law

How Does a Person Become a

Citizen of the United States?
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In what ways, if any, have naturalized

citizens contributed to American society?
Think about the above question and respond below. (Your response should only fit onto this
page and be at least 10 sentences long. Minimum font is 12)

-they have contributed by becoming politically active (voting, running for office
- they contribute to the economy(working spending money paying taxes)
- they contribute to their communities
- get involved in churches
-they contribute to the education of children
- they serve in some branch of the military
- they contribute by serving on a jury
-they contribute by obeying the laws of society
-they can contribute by being informed on civic affairs
-they contribute by volunteering for a cause
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Every person born in the United States is a citizen of this country. A person
born in another country to parents who are citizens of the United States is
also a citizen of this country.

A legal permanent resident is someone who is not a citizen of

the United States but who is legally permitted to live here. Legal permanent
residents enjoy most of the rights of citizens and like citizens they must
obey the laws and pay their taxes. They have the same rights to due process
as citizens.

Legal permanent residents are not full members of the political

community because there are some rights that are reserved for citizens.
Only citizens may vote in national elections, hold public office, or serve on
juries.

In most cases, legal permanent residents can become citizens. An adult

permanent resident may apply for citizenship after living in the United
States legally for five years. Before becoming a citizen, the person must
pass a test to show that he or she understands the history and Constitution
of the United States. The person must be of good moral character and
demonstrate the ability to communicate in English. A person who gets his or
her citizenship in this way is a naturalized citizen. The minor child of a
naturalized citizen becomes a citizen of the United States when the parents
do.
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What Are the Rights of Citizens?

There are three categories of rights that are important to democracy and to
American citizens. These are personal rights, political rights, and economic
rights.

Personal rights are those rights that allow a person to do as he or

she wishes so long as those actions are consistent with the public order and
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do not interfere with the rights of others. The following are some personal
rights:

 Freedom to associate with whomever one pleases

 Freedom of conscience and religion
 Freedom of expression for creativity
 Freedom to have children
 Freedom to live where one chooses
 Freedom to have privacy
 Freedom to travel

Political rights are those rights that allow citizens to participate in

the political process. Without these rights, democracy could not exist. The
following are political rights:

 Due process of law and fair procedures

 Equal protection under the law
 Freedom to examine the conduct of public officials
 Freedom of expression for political purposes
 Freedom of political association and assembly
 Freedom to seek and hold public office
 Freedom to serve on juries
 Freedom to vote in free, fair, and regular elections

Economic rights are those rights needed to earn a living and to

acquire and transfer property or to produce goods and services. The
following are economic rights:

 Freedom to acquire, use, and sell or give away property

 Freedom to choose one’s work
 Freedom to enter into lawful contracts
 Freedom to establish and operate a business
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 Freedom to join professional associations and labor unions

It is important to remember that it is reasonable and fair to place limits

on most rights; they are not absolute. Most people argue that the only right
that cannot be limited is freedom of belief. All other rights can be limited in
certain situations. For example, you learned in an earlier lesson that
freedom of expression can be limited if and when it seriously harms or
endangers others.

Some rights may be limited when they conflict with other rights or with
other important values and interests. For example, the right to own and use
property can conflict with our interest in having a safe and healthy
environment.

Think about the freedoms listed above and select any 10 and explain why each individual
freedom is important to you. (Your responses should only fit onto this page. Minimum font is 12).
Be sure to number each
1. Freedom of speech enables individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and
opinions without fear of censorship or retaliation from the government or other
entities.
2. This freedom allows individuals to practice, change, or reject their religious beliefs
without interference or persecution.
3. This freedom allows individuals to gather peacefully to express their views, protest,
or engage in collective action
4. A free press is vital for the functioning of democracy, providing independent,
unbiased information to the public.
5. This freedom gives individuals the ability to travel, live, and work where they
choose, within their own country or internationally.
6. Privacy is essential for personal dignity and autonomy. It protects individuals from
unwarranted surveillance, intrusion, or misuse of their personal data.
7. The right to education enables individuals to develop the knowledge and skills
necessary for personal growth and contributing meaningfully to society.
8. This freedom is crucial for protecting human dignity and preventing physical or
psychological harm.
9. This freedom protects an individual’s right to think freely, form beliefs, and make
decisions without interference.
10. This freedom ensures that individuals are treated equally, regardless of race,
gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal characteristics.
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What Responsibilities Accompany

the Basic Rights of Citizens?
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Volunteers participating in the International Coastal Cleanup Day 2024 found an exhaust system
along the banks of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.

What is the difference between civic responsibilities and personal responsibilities?

Think about the above question and respond below. (Your responses should only fit onto this
page.). Use your own words. Also include one image of Civic Responsibility and one for Personal
Responsibility. Do not cut and paste except for images.
The difference between civic responsibility's and personal responsibility requires
a person helping in society. they can by not communicating crimes. they can also
become more informed about issues concerning society. they can help by keeping
their neighborhood safe and clean. they can participate in earth day. with
personal responsibility( to ones self they can be polices. one policy would be to
not use phones in the class room. another would be getting to school and class on
time.
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With the rights of citizens of the United States come certain responsibilities.
Citizens do not always agree on their responsibilities. Some responsibilities
that Americans have agreed upon over the years are listed below.

Personal responsibilities are obligations that each person

assumes individually. The following are examples of personal
responsibilities:

 Accepting the consequences of one’s actions

 Adhering to moral principles
 Behaving in a civil manner
 Considering the rights and interests of others
 Supporting one’s family
 Taking care of one’s self

Civic responsibilities are obligations that each person has to society.

The following are examples of civic responsibilities:

 Being informed about public issues

 Voting and deciding how to vote
 Keeping watch over political leaders and governmental
agencies and taking appropriate action if they do not follow
constitutional principles
 Obeying the laws
 Participating in civic groups
 Paying taxes
 Respecting the rights of others
 Serving as a juror
 Serving in the armed forces
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Citizens must not only be aware of their rights. They must also learn to
use their rights responsibly. Fulfilling personal and civic responsibilities is a
necessity in a self-governing, free, and just society.

Must You Obey a Law You Think Is

Unjust?

1. Why did Henry David Thoreau and

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
practice civil disobedience?
2. What should
a citizen consider before deciding
to disobey the law?

Internet Research time!!! Think about the question above and respond below. (Your
response should only fit onto this page and be at least 10 sentences long for each. Minimum font is
(10-12). No cut and paste
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When laws or governmental actions conflict with a citizen’s views of what is

right and wrong, the citizen faces a difficult decision. In our system of
government, you have a right to try to have laws changed. There are many
ways that you and others can work to change laws that you think are unjust.
Until you get them changed, however, you are held responsible for obeying
the laws.

Suppose a law requires you to do something you believe is wrong. Must

you obey the law? Some people argue that since no government is perfect, a
citizen’s responsibility to obey the law has limits. In their view, if a law is
unjust, the citizen has no responsibility to obey it.

Deciding to disobey a law is a serious step. Disobeying the law has

consequences that the citizen must be prepared to accept. Such
consequences might include paying fines and even going to jail.

Throughout history, many citizens have accepted the consequences of

disobeying the law. In the 1800s the famous American philosopher Henry
David Thoreau chose to go to jail rather than pay a tax to support slavery
and the Mexican-American War. In the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and others chose to go to jail to protest racial segregation laws.
During the Vietnam War, many young men burned their draft cards and
refused to serve in the armed forces because they believed the war was
unjust.
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What Are Your Responsibilities as a

Citizen?

What are some examples of your responsibilities

as a citizen of the United States?

Think about the above question and respond below. (Your response should only fit onto this
page and be at least 10 examples of your responsibilities as a citizen of the United States . Minimum
font is 10-12)
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You have learned a great deal about our nation’s government from studying
this lesson. You also have learned about some of the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship. You and all citizens will be faced with difficult
decisions about your role in a democratic society.

What commitment are you willing to make to the basic principles of our
government? How will you decide which of your rights, desires, or interests
may have to take second place to your responsibility to the common good?
It is your responsibility as a citizen to make these difficult decisions.

Think about the above questions that are shaded and respond below. (Your responses should
only fit onto this page and be at least 15 sentences. Minimum font is 12)
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Critical Thinking Exercise

Dealing with Conflicting Responsibilities

The following is a hypothetical story that involves conflicting responsibilities

and interests. Read the story and then complete the exercise that follows it.

A New School Policy

Gail was worried. Five of her friends were going to

take part in a protest during the last period of school the
next day. They were planning to demonstrate against the
new school policy prohibiting the wearing of T-shirts with
controversial slogans. Like her friends, Gail believed that
this situation was unfair to the students. She believed that
the T-shirts were legal and not vulgar or offensive. She felt
strongly that this policy should be changed.
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Gail was worried about what would happen if she

joined the picket line. She worried that she might be
suspended from school. If this happened it might affect
her chances of being accepted by a college. She was also
afraid that she might be arrested, especially if the
demonstration got out of hand. An arrest on her record
could keep her from getting a good job.

On the other hand, she wanted to show her views

and help change what she thought was an unjust situation.
What should Gail do?

Work with one or more partners to discuss and develop

answers to the following questions.
What rights do you think Gail has in this situation?

11. What responsibilities accompany these rights?

12. What are some alternative actions that Gail might

take to solve her problem or reach a decision?

13. List the advantages and disadvantages of each

alternative.

14. Decide what you think should be done,

considering the advantages and disadvantages of the
alternatives.
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15. Explain the reasons for your decision and how

that decision reflects the basic principles of our
government.

Review (No cut and Paste)

1. What does the term citizen mean?

2. Who is a citizen of the United States?

3. How can noncitizens acquire citizenship in this

country?

4. What are the personal, political, and economic rights

of citizens?

5. What responsibilities accompany our basic rights?

6. What are some consequences to consider when

deciding whether to challenge a law that you think is
unjust?
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Activities on A Response Card

1. Write an essay in which you describe the qualities of good citizens in
a constitutional democracy. Explain why you think these qualities are
necessary.
2. Debate the following questions with groups of three or four students.

o What should a person do when he or she thinks that a

law is unjust? Give examples to support your opinion.
o Suppose you cannot agree on what is in the common
good. Should you pursue your own interests or still try
to consider the interests of others? Explain your
answer and provide examples

3. Learn more about resident aliens in the United States. Use the
Internet to do some research. In what regions of the country do a
majority of resident aliens live? What motivates resident aliens to
want to live in the United States?
4. Learn more about individuals who have become naturalized citizens of
the United States. Here is a list of people you might want to research
in your library or on the Internet. Select any 2 people below to
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research information on where they were born, when they

became citizens. and what contributions to our society

o Madeleine Albright
o Albert Einstein
o Marcus Garvey
o Andrew S. Grove
o Henry Kissinger
o Chien-Shiung Wu

5. Does modern technology make the right to privacy easier or harder

to protect the issues of privacy today?
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