Who Are America’s Citizens?

1. Who Are America’s Citizens? • You are a ______________________ if you meet any of the following: • Born in the U.S. (50 states or D.C.), or any of its ______________________or ______________________________________ • If you are born elsewhere & __________________________ are citizens or one is a citizen who has ______________ in the U.S.

2. Who Are America’s Citizens? • __________________________: Legal process of becoming a citizen • ___________________: Non-citizens who live in a country • ______________________: Move from one country to another to live • More than 500,000 immigrants to the U.S. per year

3. Who Are America’s Citizens? • The Naturalization Process: • File Declaration of Citizenship • Must be in U.S. __________________ (3 if married to a citizen) • Be 18+ & resident of your state for more than 3 months • Background interview and test taken • ____________________________ taken: any kids naturalized citizen may have under 18 become citizens too

4. A Lifelong Privilege • Citizenship is a lifelong _____________________________ unless… • ___________________________: Giving improper information during naturalization process • ___________________________: Giving up your citizenship to become citizen of another country • Punishment for a crime: Treason, violent rebellious act against the government

5. Aliens in America • U.S. today limits # of immigrants to around ___________________ per year • Recent emphasis on allowing those who are most likely to become productive, working citizens into country

6. Aliens in America Illegal Immigrants: • More than ____________________ illegal aliens living in U.S. • Some come temporarily & stay, some come in illegally • Not legal to hire illegal immigrants • ____________________________________ created to police U.S.-Mexico, U.S.-Canadian border & waters around Florida • _____________________: Send back to country of citizenship

7. Aliens in America Legal Immigrants: • ________________________: Has come to the United States to live permanently • ____________________________: Only in the United States temporarily • TV reporter from foreign country reporting on World Cup Soccer in U.S. • Aliens have same legal protections as U.S. citizens • Do not have right to vote, run for office, or sit on juries

8. Types of Government • Types of Democracy • ____________________ – A government in which citizens hold the power to rule. • ____________________ – a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand. • ______________________________ – A government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf.

9. ___________________________ – a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers. • ___________________________ – The monarchs are heads of state only, presiding at the ceremonies and serving as symbols of unity. • Democratic Principles • Voting and Democracy – Free, fair and competitive elections • Voters have choice – Competitive elections and competing political parties are an important in democracies • Majority rule – citizens agree that when differences of opinion arise, they will abide by what most people want.

10. Authoritarian Governments • _______________________ – a government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power. • _______________________ – Monarchs had unlimited authority to rule as they wished. (Technically 2 still remain today – king of Saudi Arabia and the emir of Qatar)

11. ____________________________ – Dictators exercise complete control over the state. Dictators generally acquire power through force. • ___________________________ – The governments control extends to almost every aspect of people’s lives. • Most dictators impose a totalitarian state • Ban political opposition and suppress individual freedoms • Regulate farms and industries

12. Duties & Responsibilities of Citizens ____________________________: Things we SHOULD do, voluntary actions ______________________: Things that we are REQUIRED to do as citizens

13. Duties & Responsibilities of Citizens 5 Duties of U.S. Citizens: 1. ___________________: Federal, State & Local 2. ___________________ 3. __________________ the country in wartime: the draft for men 18 to 25 if necessary 4. Serve on ________________: 5. Attend _______________:

14. Duties & Responsibilities of Citizens 4 Civic Responsibilities of Citizens: 1. Be _______________ on government actions and decisions that may impact your life 2. Make your voice _______________ on key issues and government officials by voting 3. __________________ the rights of others: Don’t create panic, tolerate views different than your own • Drag racing on public roads puts the lives of others in danger 4. Contribute to the ________________: Volunteering time and money, helping others in need, etc…

15. Citizen Involvement • Every year, more than half of Americans do some kind of ____________________________________ • Volunteering can improve the lives of others and make communities safer places to live and work

16. Citizen Involvement __________________________: Complex systems with many departments, many rules and many people in the chain of command • How governments are organized, can be slow to adapt to change

17. Citizen Involvement • __________________: The health, happiness and prosperity of all those in the community Donating _______________________: • Many opportunities within the community to volunteer & contribute • More than $250 billion is donated to charity on a yearly basis • Average American donates about 2 percent of income ______________________: Offering time and effort to others without payment

18. Volunteers in Action _____________________________________: More than 1 million charities available to donate either time or money ________________________: Some schools require community service for graduation National Service Programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Freedom Corps

19. Citizen Involvement • _______________________: Citizens pitch in to solve problems rather than relying on government. • 50,000+ people volunteer for AmeriCorps every year