BEING AN AMERICANLESSON 1

BEING AN AMERICAN• About 13% of all Americans were born in another country. These foreign-born

people are immigrants.

•IMMIGRANT – AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MOVES PERMANENTLY TO A NEW COUNTRY

• Today, more than half of all the people in the United States who were born in another country come from Latin America.

BEING AN AMERICAN

• Most scholars believe that the very first people to live in what is now the United States came from Asia about 20,000 years ago.

• How did they likely travel to the United States?

BEING AN AMERICANOnly 50 miles between Russia (Asia) and Alaska (the United States)

BEING AN AMERICAN• Many different people groups migrated to America in its early years.

• Where did these early people groups settle?• Spanish: (1500s) Florida, Texas, California• French: (early 1600s) Canada, around the Great Lakes, and along the Mississippi River• Dutch: (early 1600s) New Amsterdam (which we now know as New York City), and along the Hudson River• English: (early 1600s) along the East Coast

• By the late 1600s and 1700s, people started arriving from Germany, Sweden, Ireland, and Scotland.

• All of these early immigrants created the 13 colonies that became the United States.

BEING AN AMERICAN• The American population is very diverse. People belong to a variety of racial and

ethic groups.

• People of the same racial group share distinctive physical traits.

•ETHNIC GROUP – A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON NATIONAL, CULTURAL, OR RACIAL BACKGROUND

BEING AN AMERICAN• Do you agree with most of your friends about what is good and what is bad? Do all

Americans have the same view on what is good and what is bad?

•VALUES– THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OR BELIEFS PEOPLE USE TO MAKE JUDGMENTS AND DECISIONS

• Our founding document, The Declaration of Independence protects our values, though different from each other, stating that all people are equal, and that all people have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

BEING AN AMERICAN• American government reflects how strongly Americans value freedom. This is because in the

United States, American government is based on the principle of popular sovereignty.

• POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY: THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT RECEIVES ITS POWER FROM THE PEOPLE

• The people choose the nation’s leaders, and those leaders must face the people again to stay in office.

• The Constitution has made sure the government is limited in its power with a three-part equal government.

• Also, the Bill of Rights makes sure that the government cannot abuse its power over the individual.

BECOMING A CITIZENLESSON 2

BECOMING A CITIZEN• At home, you might have certain responsibilities or chores that you are supposed to

carry out. Example: Walking the dog, Making your bed, Washing the Dishes

• You might also have certain privileges. Example: You might be allowed to use the computer or play games on your phone after you’ve finished your homework, or you might be allowed to go with your friends to see a movie.

• In a similar way, citizens have both duties (obligations) and rights.

•CITIZEN: A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO OWE LOYALTY TO A GOVERNMENT AND, IN TURN, ARE ENTITLED TO ITS PROTECTION.

•CIVICS: THE STUDY OF THE DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CITIZENS

BECOMING A CITIZEN•CITIZENSHIP: THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS

• Where did the idea of citizenship come from?

It dates back more than 2,500 years to ancient Greece and Rome!

•GOVERNMENT: THE RULING AUTHORITY FOR A COMMUNITY

BECOMING AN AMERICAN14TH AMENDMENT: SECTION 1All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Understanding Citizenship: from Kids Law

The 14th Amendment is a very important amendment that defines what it means to be a U.S. citizen and protects certain rights of the people. The Citizenship Clause gives individuals born in the United States – but especially at that time, African Americans – the right to citizenship. Before the 14th amendment, African Americans could not become citizens, and this limited the rights of those who were able to escape slavery and become free. This clause allows all people born in the United States to be U.S. citizens. Once you have American citizenship, it cannot be taken from you by Congress or other authorities, unless you lie to the government during the process to get U.S. citizenship. Otherwise, everyone who becomes an American citizen stays an American citizen, unless they give it up themselves.

BECOMING AN AMERICAN

Law of blood Law of soil Being born to at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen .

Being born in the United States .

BECOMING A CITIZEN

BECOMING A CITIZEN•NATURALIZATION: THE LEGAL PROCESS TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP• Immigrants who want to become United States citizens must meet certain

requirements, and then may send in an application to the USCIS:Must be 18 or older

They must have been a lawful permanent resident for five years

They must be able to read, write, and speak English

They must be of good moral character

They must show an understanding of U.S. history and civics

BECOMING A CITIZEN• Once they meet the requirements, these are the steps a person must take to

become a citizen:

Complete an application and send to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Meet with a USCIS official to verify they meet the requirements

Take a citizenship exam to test English language and knowledge of U.S. history and government

Attend a naturalization ceremony and take “Oath of Allegiance”

BECOMING A CITIZENThis image is from a

naturalizationceremony, where legal immigrants officially become U.S. Citizens.

BECOMING A CITIZEN ALIEN: A FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS NOT BEEN NATURALIZED Aliens can be in the U.S. for temporary purposes (a “nonresident alien”: for a job, as a student, or visiting for a certain period of time) or as a legal permanent resident (a “resident alien”: someone who is permanently living in the U.S. legally but not a citizen) The United States also accepts refugees

•REFUGEE: A PERSON WHO HAS LEFT HIS OR HER COUNTRY TO ESCAPE DANGER SUCH AS PERSECUTION BY THE GOVERNMENT, WAR, OR NATURAL DISASTER

BECOMING A CITIZEN Currently the U.S. limits the number of immigrants who can enter the country

each year to about 1 million people. Relatives of U.S. citizens have highest priority. So do people who have job skills

that are needed by employers in the United States. Because there is a limit, many people come to the U.S. or stay in the U.S.

illegally. Today, close to 12 million people are living in the U.S. illegally.

BECOMING A CITIZEN Americans can lose their citizenship in three ways:

Expatriation: Someone who gives his or her allegiance to a foreign country is expatriated.

Denaturalization: Naturalized citizens who are found to have lied on their citizenship application are denaturalized. That is, they lose their naturalization and may be deported (sent out of the country).

Being convicted of certain crimes: Those guilty of any of three very serious crimes can lose citizenship. The crimes are 1) treason, 2) taking part in a rebellion, and 3) trying to overthrow the government by violent means.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS

LESSON 3

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS

•COMMON GOOD: BELIEFS OR ACTIONS THAT ARE SEEN AS A BENEFIT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY RATHER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS. COMMON GOOD CAN ALSO BE CALLED THE “PUBLIC GOOD.”

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS

•OBLIGATION: SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED TO DO (A DUTY)

•RESPONSIBILITY: SOMETHING CITIZENS DO TO BENEFIT THE COMMON GOOD (SOMETHING WE SHOULD D0)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS

Duties of Citizens Responsibilities of Citizens

• Obey Laws

• Pay Taxes

• Defend the nation

• Serve in court

• Attend school

Be informed and vote

Participate in your community and government

Respect the rights and property of others

Respect different opinions and ways of life

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS•TOLERANCE: RESPECTING AND ACCEPTING OTHERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR

BELIEFS, PRACTICES, OR DIFFERENCES

•WELFARE: THE HEALTH, PROSPERITY, AND HAPPINESS OF THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY

•VOLUNTEERISM: THE PRACTICE OF OFFERING YOUR TIME AND SERVICES TO OTHERS WITHOUT RECEIVING PAYMENT

FORMS OF GOVERNMENTLESSON 4

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT•PUBLIC POLICY: THE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS A GOVERNMENT TAKES TO SOLVE

PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY

•REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: A GOVERNMENT IN WHICH CITIZENS CHOOSE A SMALLER GROUP TO GOVERN ON THEIR BEHALF

•CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY: MONARCHY IN WHICH THE POWER OF THE HEREDITARY RULER IS LIMITED BY THE COUNTRY’S CONSTITUTION AND LAWS

FORMS OF GOVERNMENTFUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT

Keep Order Provide Security Provide Services Guide the Community

1- Pass and enforce laws to deter crime

2- Establish courts

1- Establish armed forces

2- Protect citizens from foreign attacks

1-Protect publichealth

2- Protect public safety

3- Provide public welfare

1- Develop public policy

2- Manage the economy

3- Conduct foreignrelations

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT•MAJORITY RULE: POLITICAL PRINCIPLE PROVIDING THAT A MAJORITY OF

THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY HAS THE POWER TO MAKE LAWS BINDING UPON ALL THE PEOPLE

•AUTHORITARIAN REGIME: A GOVERNMENT IN WHICH ONE LEADER OR GROUP OF PEOPLE HOLDS ABSOLUTE POWER

•TOTALITARIAN: DESCRIBES A SYSTEM IN WHICH GOVERNMENT CONTROL EXTENDS TO ALMOST ALL ASPECTS OF PEOPLE’S LIVES

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

•IDEOLOGY: A STRICT BODY OF IDEAS ABOUT LIFE AND SOCIETY

•SOCIALISM: SYSTEM IN WHICH SOCIETY, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT, CONTROLS ALL ASPECTS OF THE ECONOMY

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Federal

State

Local

FORMS OF GOVERNMENTPRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

RULE OF LAWAll people, including those who govern, are bound by the law.

LIMITED GOVERNMENTGovernment is not all-powerful. It may do only those things that the people have given it the power to do.

CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED

American citizens are the source of all government power.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTSIn American democracy, individual rights are protected by government.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

People elect government leaders to make the laws and govern on their behalf.

FREE, FAIR, AND COMPETITIVE

ELECTIONS

Every citizen’s vote has equal value. They choose between candidates and parties. They vote by secret ballot free from government interference.

MAJORITY RULEA majority of the members of a community has the power to make laws binding upon all the people.