This document outlines the legal duties and civic responsibilities of citizens, including obeying laws, paying taxes, military service, jury duty, and school attendance. It also discusses civic responsibilities like being informed, voting, respecting others' rights and diversity, and contributing to the common good. Finally, it describes how citizens volunteer and donate to their communities through organizations like the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps.

1. Ch. 5
The Duties and
Responsibilities of Citizenship
Duties and Responsiblities

2. A Citizen’s Legal Duties
 Each of us belongs to many communities:
- neighborhood
- town, city
- school
- church
- state
- country
 As community members, we have many
responsibilities – things we should do or obligations
that we fulfill voluntarily

3. A Citizen’s Legal Duties
 As citizens, we also have duties – things
we are required to do.
 We must fulfill duties required by national,
state, and local governments or face fines
or imprisonment.

4. Duties
1. Obey the Law
- Serve specific purposes, such as to help
people get along, prevent accidents, and see
that resources are used fairly
2. Pay Taxes
- Government uses tax money to pay police,
pave roads, and maintain armed forces.
People pay a percentage of what they bring in,
or on the sale of goods or even property.

5. Duties
3. Defend the Nation
- In the U.S. all men aged 18-25 must register with
the government in case the country needs to draft, or
call up men for military service; today military service
is voluntary.
4. Serve in Court
- Every adult citizen must be prepared to serve on a
jury or as a witness at a trial if called to do so.

6. Duties
5. Attend School
- Most states require young people to
attend school until the age of 16.

7. Civic Responsibilities
1. Be Informed
- Know what the government is doing so that
you can voice your opinion.
- People can learn about issues and leaders by
reading print publications, listening to news on
the radio or T.V., talking o people, and
searching the internet
- Be aware of your rights

8. Civic Responsibilities
2. Speak Up and Vote
- Remember, the government exists to serve
you, but you must make your concerns known.
- Calling, writing, or sending e-mails to your
elected representatives; joining political
parties; working for a cause
- VOTE

9. Civic Responsibilities
3. Respect Other’s Rights
- people must respect public property
and the property of others.
- vandalizing and littering are not only
disrespectful but also a crime.

10. Civic Responsibilities
4. Respect Diversity
- Although we may disagree with people or disapprove
of their lifestyles, these people have an equal right to
their beliefs and practices
- Tolerance means respecting and accepting others,
regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences.
- Diversity in our country is a strength, all citizens are
equal and entitled to be treated the same.

11. Civic Responsibilities
5. Contribute to the Common Good
- Contributing time, effort, and money to
help others and to improve the
community life.
- Be an active participant in your
community

12. Citizens and the Community
 Americans do volunteer work to help make
their communities better places to live.
 A community is a group of people who
share the same interests and concerns.
 Many volunteers today are students
between grades 6-12.

13. Citizens and the Community
 Government at all levels, provide many needs
for the people, but resources are limited.
 Governments are bureaucracies – complex
systems with many departments, rules, and
people in the chain of command.
 This often makes it difficult for government to
respond quickly to social problems.

14. Citizens and the Community
 Good citizens of this country are
concerned about the welfare – the
health, prosperity, and happiness of all
members of the community.
 Some people participate in the community
by leading a scout troop; others mentor
school children; visit nursing homes; and
collecting canned goods. Ex. PTA

15. Citizens and the Community
 Volunteerism is the practice of offering your
time and services to others without payment.
 Instead of their time, many Americans
contribute money to charity
 In 2005, people gave more than $250 billion to
charity. Average 2% of their income.
 Most came from average individual citizens,
some came from large corporations.

16. Citizens and the Community
 Many companies believe in giving back to
the community.
 Ex. sponsoring a recreational sports team,
donating prizes for community fund-raisers,
contributing to college
scholarships to students
 Ex. Bentonville, Arkansas – Wal-Mart

17. Citizens and the Community
 When it comes to volunteering, people are more
likely to participate when they feel a personal
connection to a cause or know others involved
ex. PTA
 There are more than 1 million registered
charities with the federal government; many are
small and locally based.
 All are dependant on ordinary people giving their
time.

18. Citizens and the Community
 More than half of all U.S. middle schools
and high schools now arrange community
service for students from 6-12 grade.
 Several hundred school districts now
require high school students to volunteer
a set number of hours to earn a
graduation diploma.

19. Citizens and the Community
 The federal government has created national volunteer
programs:
 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to fight
poverty, disease, and war in the poorest corners of the
world.
 Established the Peace Corps which now has 180,000
members in 138 countries.
 Includes advising farmers, teaching children,
vaccinations against disease, etc.

20. Citizens and the Community
 AmeriCorps was established in 1993. 50,000
Americans participate.
 Domestically help disaster victims, clean up
polluted rivers, assist individuals with disabilities.
 In exchange, people receive a small living
allowance and money to help pay for college.

21. Citizens and the Community
 Senior Corps established in 1965, is a volunteer program
for people aged 55 and older. Consists of 3 main
programs:
- Foster grandparents for children with special needs
- Senior companions for other seniors
- The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (meals on
wheels) or other neighborhood activities

22. Citizens and the Community
 USA Freedom Corps was a new program
implemented by George W. Bush which brought
together all three programs:
Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps
 Meant to focus on three areas of need:
- responding to national emergencies
- rebuilding our communities
- extending American compassion around the
world

23. Citizens and the Community
 By banding together, we truly serve ourselves.
 The benefits of volunteering:
- make our communities better places to live
- gain opportunities to learn, make friends,
improve skills
- gain the satisfaction of knowing that a
difference has been made in someone else’s life.