AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AS ACTION

1
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AS ACTION

• The process of exercising ones citizenship in a
  socially responsible manner.

2
4 steps of Citizenship as Action

• KNOWLEDGE
• get the facts
• collect data
• gather information
• THOUGHT
• Understanding the facts
• Understanding any consequences related to the
  facts
• COMMITMENT
• Making a decision based on your understanding of
  the facts
• ACTION
• Just Do It
• Carry out what youve decided to do based on your
  understanding of the facts.

3
EFFICACY

• You have the power to produce an effect!

4
Characteristics of Good Citizenship( from video
Whats Happening with Citizenship?)

• Help Get Things Done
• Strengthen Your Community
• Show Responsibility through Service
• Expanding Your Opportunities
• How could you reflect these characteristics
• in your community?

5
INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENT

• Think of ANY ways government exerts ANY kind of
  influence or impact on you/society daily
• If government has THAT much influence on US,
  should WE exert at least SOME influence on
  government?
• YES!!!

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GOOD GOVERNMENT quote

• You get GOOD GOVERNMENT
• When YOU DEMAND it
• You get BAD GOVERNMENT
• When YOU ALLOW it!!!
• Which would YOU prefer?

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DEMANDING GOOD GOVERNMENT

• KNOW WHO REPRESENTS YOU IN GOVERNMENT AT ALL
  LEVELS
• National/Federal
• Representatives to the U.S. House of
  Representatives
• United States Senators
• President/Vice President
• FIND CONTACT
• INFORMATION
• THEN USE IT!!

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DEMANDING GOOD GOVERNMENT

• KNOW WHO REPRESENTS YOU IN GOVERNMENT AT ALL
  LEVELS
• State
• Governor/Lieutenant Governor
• State Representative to the PA General Assembly
• State Senator
• FIND CONTACT INFORMATION
• THEN USE IT!!

9
DEMANDING GOOD GOVERNMENT

• KNOW WHO REPRESENTS YOU IN GOVERNMENT AT ALL
  LEVELS
• Local
• County Commissioners
• Township Supervisors
• Borough Council members
• Mayor
• School Board members
• FIND CONTACT INFORMATION
• THEN USE IT!!

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DEMANDING GOOD GOVERNMENT

• FIND CONTACT INFORMATION
• THEN USE IT!!
• Website
• Email address
• Postal address
• Telephone number

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AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

• DEMOCRACY
• From the Greek demos (people) and kratia ( rule
  or govern)
• POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
• People have the supreme authority to govern

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The CONSTITUTION of the United States of America

• The U.S. Constitution is the Supreme Law of the
  Land
• It is an umbrella over all content in this
  course.
• No government position is above the law the rule
  of law.
• Popular Sovereignty -- We the People have the
  ultimate authority to rule/amend the
  constitution.

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PREAMBLEto the United States Constitution

• We the People of the United States,
• In order to
• Form a more perfect union,
• Establish justice,
• Insure domestic tranquility,
• Provide for the common defense,
• Promote the general welfare,
• And secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
  and our posterity,
• Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
  United States of America.

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EFFICACY

• The Power to Produce an Effect!!
• The Power to Produce an Effect!!
• The Power to Produce an Effect!!
• The Power to Produce an Effect!!
• The Power to Produce an Effect!!