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Civics and Citizenship
Civics is the study of what is means to be a U.S. citizen - a legally recognized member
of the country. A citizen is an individual with certain rights and duties under a
government. The word civics comes from the Latin civis, meaning
“citizen.”
A democratic society requires the active participation of its citizens. Living
in the United States doesn't automatically make one an American citizen.
Residents of the United States can be aliens, or citizens.
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Aliens: Aliens are people who have left (emigrated) a foreign
country to the United States legally. They have some of the same
freedoms and legal rights as U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote in
elections.
Citizens: Persons born in the U.S. or to U.S. citizens in foreign
countries are citizens of the United States. Persons born in other
countries who want to become citizens must apply for and pass a
citizenship test. Those who become citizens in this manner are
naturalized citizens.
Citizens of the U.S. enjoy all of the freedoms, protections, and legal rights
which the Constitution promises.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America
defines citizenship: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject
to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the state wherein they
reside.”
1. Birth
2. Naturalization
Sources of Citizenship
 Born in any state.
 Born outside of the U.S. but one or both
parents are U.S. citizen
 The process by which people from foreign
countries become U.S. citizens
Becoming a U.S. Citizen: Naturalization
Immigration and naturalization, particularly in the twentieth century, have led to an
increasingly diverse society. There are three steps in this process:
1. File an application. The application asks for biographical information about the
person. The person has his or her fingerprints taken, and provides photographs
and legal documents.
2. Take a naturalization examination. The examination tests the applicant’s
knowledge of U.S. government and history. The applicant must also pass an
English test.
3. Appear for a court hearing. The applicant appears before a judge and asks to
become a U.S. citizen. The judge will listen to the applicant’s reasons and will
decide on naturalization.
To become a citizen, or to be naturalized, a person must meet certain requirements:
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Be at least 18 years old
Have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years
Be of good moral character and loyal to the U.S.
Be able to read, write, speak and understand basic English
Have basic knowledge and understanding of the history, government structure
and the Constitution of the U.S.
Be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the U.S.
Create a flow chart of the naturalization process. Be sure to include the requirements for
citizenship.
Live in the
U.S. for 5
years and turn
18
Come to the
United States
Learn English
and study U.S.
history and
government
Take an Oath
of Allegiance
File an application
Appear before
a judge
Take the
citizenship
and English
tests; prove
that you are a
good person
Civics and Citizenship (CE.3a)


Civics is the study of what is means to be a U.S. citizen.
Living in the United States doesn't automatically make one an American
citizen
 Residents of the United States can be aliens, or citizens.
Alien
People who have left (emigrated) a
foreign country and come to the United
States legally.
Have some of the same freedoms and
legal rights as U.S. citizens, but they
cannot vote in elections.
Citizen
Legally recognized member of a
country
Has certain rights and duties under a
government.
Citizens of the U.S. enjoy all of the
freedoms, protections, and legal rights
which the Constitution promises.
Becoming a U.S. Citizen: Naturalization
1st
File an
application
The application asks for
biographical information
about the person. The
person has his or her
fingerprints taken, and
provides photographs
and legal documents.
2nd
Take a
naturalization
examination
The examination tests
the applicant’s
knowledge of U.S.
government and history.
The applicant must also
pass an English test.
3rd
Appear for a
court hearing
The applicant appears
before a judge and asks
to become a U.S. citizen.
The judge will listen to
the applicant’s reasons
and will decide on
naturalization.
A democratic society requires the active participation of its citizens.
Ways for citizens to
participate in community
service
Volunteer to support democratic
institutions:
 League of Women Voters
 Elections
 Legislatures
Express concern about the
welfare of the community:
 Environment
 Public Health
 Safety
Education
Personal traits of good
citizens
 Trustworthiness and
honesty
 Courtesy and respect for
the rights of others
 Responsibility,
accountability and self
reliance
 Respect for the law
Help to make the community a
good place to live and work by:
 Tutoring
 Volunteering
 Patriotism
Traits of a Responsible Citizen
Begins with—
trustworthiness and honesty
Includes—
courtesy and respect for the
rights of others
Coexisting with—
the practice of responsibility,
accountability, and self-reliance
Resulting in—
respect for the law and patriotism
The character traits of good citizens interrelate and lead to a society that is better for all
citizens.

Name a famous American who has shown each of these traits:
1. Trustworthiness and honesty
2. Courtesy and respect for the rights of others.
3. Responsibility, accountability and self-reliance
4. Respect for the law
5. Patriotism
Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship
Citizenship is not free. For our society to function, citizens must contribute to the common good.
Duties of Citizenship
Certain actions are the duty of all citizens. These duties are the "musts" of citizenship.
That is, all U.S. citizens are required by law to perform these actions. The duties
required of all citizens are described in the Constitution and in the laws of the
country and the states.
Obeying the law
Our system of government can
work only if citizens respect
and obey the laws.
Attending school
Education helps ensure that
citizens have the skills
necessary to join the
workforce and promote
economic growth.
Paying taxes
Taxes pay for the many
different services provided by
the government
Serving in the armed
forces
Draft laws require men
meeting certain age and other
qualifications to serve in the
military
Appearing in court
If called, citizens must report
to serve as members of a jury
and must also testify in court
if called as witnesses
A DUTY YOU MUST DO!
Responsibilities of Citizens
In addition to the duties of citizenship, Americans have many responsibilities of
citizenship. These responsibilities are the "shoulds" of citizenship. That is, although
citizens are not required by law to carry out these actions, most Americans accept these
responsibilities. They recognize that these are important to the success of the country
and the well-being of the people.
Voting
By voting, each citizen plays a
part in deciding who the
leaders of government will be.
Being informed
Citizens should stay informed
about current events so that
they can better understand
important issues.
Taking part in
government
The quality of any democratic
government depends on the
quality of the people who
serve in it.
Helping your
community
Citizens should be willing to
give their time to help improve
their neighborhood, town, or
city.
Respecting and
protecting others’
rights
The success of the United
States depends on the
protection of the rights of
citizens. All Americans must
take part in defending human
rights.
A responsibility you SHOULD do!
Purposes of Government
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Why do we need a government?
What does the government do for us?
What services does the government provide?