This document outlines the key characteristics and responsibilities of being a United States citizen. It defines a citizen as someone who owes loyalty to a nation and is entitled to its rights and protections. There are three main ways to become a US citizen: birth in the country, naturalization by completing the legal process, or being under 18 when parents naturalized. Responsibilities of citizens include voting, obeying laws, defending the country if needed, serving on juries, and being informed. The document asks if citizenship should be earned through civic participation rather than simply being granted.

1. What are the characteristics of a
Citizen
Do Now: What makes a citizen? What
do all citizens do?

2. What is a Citizen
• A Citizen is a person who owes
loyalty to a particular nation and is
entitled to all its rights and
protections. To be citizen of the
United States, you must fulfill one of
3 requirements:

3. What is a Citizen? Cont.
• 1. You were born in the United States (or at least
one parent is a citizen of the United States)
• 2. You were naturalized, that is, you have
completed the official legal process of becoming
a citizen.
• 3. You were 18 or younger when your parents
were naturalized.

4. Becoming a Citizen
• Who is Carla? Where does she come from?
• She is a girl from Argentina.
• She became a Resident alien – Noncitizen
living in the country
To become a citizen you must take the Oath of
Allegiance to the United States.

5. Rights and Responsibilities:
• Under American Law
• ALL are equal
• ALL have rights

6. Civic Virtue
• Willingness to work for the good of
the nation or community even at
great sacrifice
• Cincinnatus Roman Farmer who gave
up a peaceful life to lead Rome.
• Think of Washington and Jefferson

7. Democratic Value
• Is a sense of Patriotism (a feeling of love and
devotion toward one’s country)
• Respect for laws
• Moral Courage: Doing the right thing even
when it is unpopular – think Martin Luther
King, Jr.
• Physical Courage: Police, Soldiers, Fire Fighters

8. Responsibilities of a citizen
• Voting
• Obeying the Laws
• Defending the Nation
• Serving on a Jury
• Serving the Community
• Being Informed

9. Becoming an American Citizen
• 1. Establish _______-year _________
• 2. Apply for ___________________
________________________________
________________________________
• 3. Go through the interview process
________________________________
________________________________
• 4. Take Oath of __________________________

10. Test questions
• How many stripes are there on our flag?
• _________________________________
• What country did we fight during the
Revolutionary War?
• _________________________________
• Who elects the President of the United
States?
• _________________________________

11. Test questions
• What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
• ___________________________________
• How Many terms can the President Serve?
• ___________________________________
• How many Senators are there in Congress?
• ___________________________________

12. On a yellow sheet answer
• Some people do not vote, some
people do not volunteer to help their
communities, should citizenship be
earned rather than given?