2. The goal of this training is to enable students
to make their own decisions and to take
responsibility for their own lives and their
communities as a citizen of the United States.
3. What is Citizenship?
Citizenship is about how we live together in our
communities and how we ‘get on’ locally,
nationally and globally.
Why teach Citizenship?
Democracies need active, informed and
responsible citizens; citizens who are willing and
able to take responsibility for themselves and
their communities and contribute to the political
process.
4. The values of
democracy, justice,
equality and inclusion
have been long fought
,but are easily neglected
and abused.
The best way to
guarantee a brighter
future for all is to create
a society in which we all
understand our rights
and responsibilities.
5. Good citizens help to
make decisions about
their community.
Take a look at this list
of activities. Have you
made a point to do any
of these activities in
your community?
6. Attend a city or town council or school board
meeting, or a municipal, county, or state court
session.
Choose a charitable organization outside of
AmeriCorps that interests you and brings people
in your community together to work for the
good of your community
Find out where the chief government buildings
in your community are located. (City Hall,
County courthouse, fire station, police station,
hospitals, etc.)
7. What does democracy mean?
What is a nation-state?
What is the role of the citizen in a
democracy?
8. The United States has had
the same type of government
for more than 200 years. It’s
called a “representative
democracy.” Among the
nations of the world, it is
unusual for a system of
government to last so long.
Most governments are based
on a written set of
principles, sometimes called
a “constitution” or a
“charter.” When citizens
directly participate by
voting, the government is
called a “democracy
9. A nation-state refers to
a single or multiple
nationalities joined
together in a formal
political union.
10. In a democracy, every Everyone has the right to
citizen has certain basic associate with other
rights that the state cannot people, and to form and join
take away from them. These organizations of their own
rights are internationally choice, including trade
recognized and guaranteed. unions.
Everyone has the right to
Everyone has the right to assemble and to protest
have their own beliefs, government
including their religious actions. However, citizens
beliefs, and to say and write have an obligation to exercise
what they think. these rights peacefully, with
respect for the law and for
the rights of others.
11. Throughout history, rulers and dictators have
taken away people's rights. In many parts of the
world today people can't worship as they please,
talk freely, gather with groups of friends, or
travel. If you feel that everyone is always telling
you what to do and that you have no rights,
you're wrong! You are protected by laws such
such as the Bill of Rights. You also have their own
rights, which were developed by the United
Nations. It's important to know your rights and
to stand up for yourself.
