Chapter 5 NotesChapter 5 NotesThe Citizen and the The Citizen and the

CommunityCommunity

• Responsibilities:Responsibilities: things we should things we should do (obligations we fulfill voluntarily)do (obligations we fulfill voluntarily)

• Duties:Duties: things we must do things we must do• Certain duties are required by the Certain duties are required by the

government (national, state, local)government (national, state, local)• Not performing the duties result in Not performing the duties result in

penalties (fines and jail)penalties (fines and jail)

Required Legal Duties of Required Legal Duties of AmericansAmericans

• Obey Laws: Obey Laws: help people get alonghelp people get along• prevent accidentsprevent accidents• use resources fairlyuse resources fairly• maintain ordermaintain order• protect health, safety, and protect health, safety, and

propertyproperty

• Pay Taxes: Pay Taxes: pay for government pay for government activities activities

• pay employeespay employees• maintain armed maintain armed

forcesforces• help needyhelp needy• hire police officers & hire police officers &

firefighters firefighters• pave roads and pave roads and

maintain maintain prisons prisons• Tax Collection: (the way we pay Tax Collection: (the way we pay

taxes):taxes):– state & federal income tax (% of state & federal income tax (% of

money earned0money earned0– sales tax—state and local (paid sales tax—state and local (paid

when you buy goods or services)when you buy goods or services)– property tax- amount paid based on property tax- amount paid based on

the value of your land, vehicle, etcthe value of your land, vehicle, etc

• Defend the Nation: Defend the Nation: • draft-draft- government calls up government calls up

men for military servicemen for military service• All men aged 18-25 are All men aged 18-25 are

required to register with the required to register with the government in case the government in case the country needs men for country needs men for military service.military service.

• No draft since Vietnam WarNo draft since Vietnam War• America’s military is America’s military is

voluntaryvoluntary• BUT the government has the BUT the government has the

power to use the draft as power to use the draft as needed.needed.

• Serve in Court: Serve in Court: jury servicejury service testify as a testify as a

witness witness

• Attend school: Attend school: in most states young in most states young people have to attend school until age 16people have to attend school until age 16

benefits you and the governmentbenefits you and the government

Civic Responsibilities:Civic Responsibilities:• Speak up and vote: Speak up and vote: contact your representativescontact your representatives• join a political party or join a political party or

group/clubgroup/club• vote—give consentvote—give consent• Respect others rights: Respect others rights: individualsindividuals• public propertypublic property• property of othersproperty of others• Respect Diversity: Respect Diversity: • tolerance- tolerance- respecting and accepting others respecting and accepting others

regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences.regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences.• Treating others with respectTreating others with respect• U.S. has strength in its diversityU.S. has strength in its diversity

• Contribute to the Common Good:Contribute to the Common Good:• Give time, money, and effort to Give time, money, and effort to

improve community lifeimprove community life• Communities and governments need Communities and governments need

participationparticipation

National service National service organizations:organizations:

• Peace Corps:Peace Corps: launched by the launched by the government to help people in the poorest government to help people in the poorest corners of the worldcorners of the world

• Americorps: Americorps: volunteers work through volunteers work through local and national organizations to help in local and national organizations to help in situations like Katrina. (Red Cross, etc)situations like Katrina. (Red Cross, etc)

• Senior Corps: Senior Corps: volunteer opportunities for volunteer opportunities for those 55 and older ( Foster Grandparents, those 55 and older ( Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, Retired Senior and Senior Companions, Retired Senior and Volunteer Program.Volunteer Program.

• HOW CAN YOU VOLUNTEER, HOW CAN YOU VOLUNTEER, AND WHY SHOULD YOU???AND WHY SHOULD YOU??? SEE SEE P. 129P. 129