This document discusses citizenship and civic participation. It begins by defining three types of citizens: rights-based citizens who ensure government protects rights, community-based citizens who ensure all rights are protected, and action-based citizens who help their community meet diverse needs. Students are asked which type they are and if they are a mix. The document then discusses how values and ideologies influence civic views and actions. Students consider issues they feel passionate about and ways to take political action, such as voting, petitioning, or protesting. Effective protest is defined as having many participants, disrupting everyday life, and personal sacrifice. Digital tools for protest are also discussed. The reading assignment is to read about the role of the citizen from the

1. Agenda Class 4 What is citizenship?
• Attendance
• Citizenship
• Opinions and Values
• Taking Action
• Homework Read Gerston Chapter 2 pp 31-42

2. The Role of the Citizen
 Why does Gerston call citizenship
the most important office?
 Since the Constitution was
written, more and more people
have been give the right to vote.
Why do you think only a little
more than half our citizens vote?
Do you vote? Why or why not?
 What stops people from voting?
What policies help? Which
hinder?

3. What kind of citizen should we be?
Gertson says there are three types of citizens:
1. Rights-based: We need to be sure the federal, state and local
governments are protecting our rights.
2. Community-based: We need to be sure everyone’s rights are
being protected.
3. Action-based: We need to help our community and state and
country better meet the diverse needs of all its citizens.
Which type of citizen are you?
Is it possible to be a mix of two or three of them?
What role do our values play in how we view our role as citizens?

4. What role do our values play in how we
view our role as citizens?
• Opinions are related to specific issues and are
changeable. We base our opinions on our values
• Values are deep-seated beliefs about how the world
should be and how we should live in that world. We
get our values from
o Our family
o Our friends and our community
o Our ethnic and racial background
o Our schooling and religious training
o The media

5. Exploring Our Values
• Values Then and Now
Activity: Complete the sheet
and then go on an complete
the Budgeting My Values
Activity.
• Be prepared to discuss the
results.

6. An Ideology is when values are shared by a group.
“Ideology: A label that expresses a group’s hopes,
aspirations, and in some cases hatreds, as well.”
Ideology is…
1. A core of beliefs you share with others in the group.
2. Favoring one point of view over another and sticking
to it over time.
3. A world-view: Fascism, Socialism, Communism,
Democracy, Nationalism, Globalism, Consumerism
4. A political party: Republican, Democrat,
Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian, Green
Your ideology + Your Passion = The Political
Action You Take

7. Your Ideology + Your Passion = The Political Actions You Take
 Based on what you have learned about
your personal values, which of the
following issues or causes would you be
passionate enough to stand up and fight
for or against?
• Is there a cause you are willing to die
for?
1. An attack on our country
2. An attack on another
country
3. An attack on your religion
4. An attack on someone
else’s religion
5. To be free to live your life
as you wish as long as
you don’t hurt others.
6. To be free to live in a
country where everyone
lives by moral codes just
like mine.

8. Ways to Take Action
The Constitution recognizes
two ways to make your voice
heard besides voting:
1. The right to petition.
2. The right to dissent
Have you ever signed a
petition or participated in a
protest demonstration? Why?
What was the result? Would
you do it again?

9. What makes an effective protest
movement?
• Large number of people
• Causes a mass disruption of everyday life
• Personal sacrifice – a willingness to be
beaten, to go to jail, or to die. Examples of
successful protests
o Boston Tea Party
o NY Anti-Rent War – 1839 first laws to protect tenants from
unreasonable landlords.
o Civil Rights Movement
o Women’s Suffrage
o Anti-Vietnam War
o Stonewall – Gay Rights
o Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire – Workers’ Safe Workplace
Rights
• Can you think of any other successful
protest movements?

10. Protest in the Digital Age
• Do you think online petitions, social networking, and e-mails effective ways to
protest unjust policies?

11. Next Class
• Topic: Public Policy Issues
• Public Citizen Project Groups will be formed. Project Schedule and Directions
will be passed out.
• Reading Chapter 2 pp. 31-42