Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens

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Rights and Responsibilitiesof Citizens
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Citizenship

• Anyone born in U.S. or a territory it controls is
  a citizen
• People born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens
  because it is a territory of the U.S.
• Children of illegal immigrants born in the US are
  citizens
• Children of US Citizens born in foreign nations
  are citizens

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Citizenship

• Naturalized citizen person of foreign birth is
  granted full citizenship after a long application
  process after living in the US (legally)

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Naturalization Process

• US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
  oversees the process
• Live in US 5 years
• Be able to financially support him/herself
• Or find a sponsor
• Application form
• Pass tests in reading, writing, and speaking
  English
• Court- swearing/oath ceremony

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Difference Between Native and Naturalized citizens

• Naturalized citizen can lose citizenship
• Treason, elected office on other country, serving
  in armed forces of native county while at war
  with the US or holding officer status, lying on
  application, subversive activities or refusing to
  testify to congress about them (Within 10 yrs)
  
• Naturalized citizen cannot become president or
  vice president

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Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• Immigrant person who permanently moves to new
  country
• - legal immigrants have many of the same
  rights/responsibilities as citizens

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Immigrant vs. Citizens

• Can not vote or hold public office
• Immigrants who break law can be
• deported, or returned to country of origin

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Pros of U.S. Citizenship

• The right to vote
• Run for public office
• Apply for federal government jobs
• File to legally bring family members to live in
  the U.S.
• Receive full Social Security benefits
• Traveling to foreign countries may be easier

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Cons of U.S. Citizenship

• You must take an oath of allegiance and renounce
  your loyalty to your native country
• Owning property in your native country may be a
  problem
• You must pass basic English and U.S. government
  tests
• You may lose your right to vote and your
  citizenship in your native country

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RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

• Speech

• Press

• Assembly

• Petition

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SPEECH

• The right to talk about your beliefs, ideas, or
  feelings

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PRESS

• The right to read and write whatever you wish

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ASSEMBLY

• The right to meet with others to discuss your
  beliefs, ideas, or feelings

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PETITION

• The right to ask your government to correct
  things that you think are wrong or to do things
  you believe are needed

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RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION

• The right to hold any religious belief you choose
  or to have no religious belief at all

• Congress may not set up an official religion for
  our country or favor any one religion over others.

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RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW

• Prohibits laws that unreasonably and unfairly
  favor some groups over others

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RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS

• The right to be treated fairly by your government

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RIGHT TO VOTE

• The right to vote if you are a citizen of the
  United States and are 18 years of age or older

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Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• Duty to know and obey laws
• Paying taxes- property, income, sales, etc.
• Serve on a jury (6th Amendment right to jury
  trial)
• Testify in court if called as a witness
• Protect and defend the nation
• Register for the draft at 18

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Participate in Government

• The most basic responsibility
• Foundation of our representative democracy VOTE
• Register at 18
• Influence politicians
• interest groups, petitions, lobbying, etc
• Community service
• Volunteer groups