Effective Citizenship Mrs. Bryant’s 5 th Grade- Georgia Standards

Georgia Standards  SS5CG1a Explain the responsibilities of a citizen.

Citizen’s Rights  Along with rights and freedoms, all citizens of the United States have responsibilities. All citizens must obey the laws of their state, and of the United States. Your civic duties include following the rules of our school and classroom. Some basic obligations of citizenship include:  Obeying laws  Paying taxes  Serving on a jury when called  Registering for selective service

Rules & Laws  Laws have several important purpose:  To protect the rights of the people  To keep people safe  To describe how people should behave Laws exist because no society could survive if people just did what they pleased without any concern for others. It’s the job of police officers and courts to make sure that people obey the laws.

Punishments  There are punishments for disobeying laws, such as fines, jail time, or even life in prison! The punishment depends on the crime. For example, the penalty for stealing a motorcycle is greater than the penalty for parking in a “no parking” zone.

Laws Change  Sometimes laws change. Laws are made with good intentions, but lawmakers don’t always think of everything! Sometimes your family or school changes its rules too. Changes are made to protect you and other citizens.

Rules Change  Let’s pretend you went back to George Washington’s time. There were no automobiles, planes, or space shuttles. George Washington used a horse and carriage to get from one place to another. It was not nearly as fast as we travel today. Do you think he had to follow a speed limit?

Rules Change  What would happen today if there were no speed limits? What would happen if everyone drove as fast as they wanted? It would be dangerous for you just to cross the street! Even George Washington would agree that speed limits are a good idea.

A Rules Purpose  Some rules and laws are designed to protect citizens in their homes. Some rules and laws are designed to protect citizens at school or at work, and some are designed to protect citizens in their communities.

It’s Tax Time  You’ve probably heard your parents complain about paying taxes. It’s a fact of life that we pay taxes. Local, state, and federal governments require citizens to pay money for public goods and services. Taxes are necessary and helpful. If we didn’t have taxes, we wouldn’t have many of the goods and services we enjoy every day!

It’s Tax Time  Taxes pay for things like schools, libraries, highways, and parks. They also pay for the salaries of government employees such as police, firefighters, Congressmen, park rangers, and teachers. Even the president’s salary is paid for by taxes! Do you see how ours is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?

Famous Quote  ‘ But in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.’ Benjamin Franklin

Did You Know…  Did you know you pay taxes, too? Every time you buy something at the store, you pay sales tax. When you bought your last toy, game, or CD, you paid sales tax. When you bought your favorite candy at the store, you paid sales tax. When you bought a souvenir at a Braves or Falcons game, you paid sales tax.

Jury Duty  The U.S. Constitution guarantees every person in the United States the right to a trial by jury. With this right comes the responsibility to serve on a jury when called. A person is called by a summons. A jury typically consists of 12 people who hear the evidence in the trial, and decide whether the accused person is innocent or guilty. The person on trial is called the defendant.

The Jury  Names of jurors are usually selected from lists of registered voters and people who have driver’s licenses. People chosen to be jurors have to stop working at their jobs and attend the trial as long as it lasts. Sometimes people ask to be excused from jury duty for personal reasons. Here are a list of possible exemptions in Georgia:  Persons over 70 years of age  Caregiver of a child under 4 years of age  Full-time student at a college or vocational school

Are You a Witness?  The law says that if you are a witness to a crime, and you’re ordered to appear in court, you must go. A person who fails to appear in court can be punished for contempt of court. A witness who lies in court is guilty of the crime of perjury, and can be severely punished. However; witnesses may legally refuse to testify against themselves or their spouses.  What amendment says you do not have to testify against yourself?

Registering for Selective Service  Since 1981, all men are required to register with the Selective Service System as they reach the age of 18. Such registration is designed to provide the government with a list of men who can be drafted into the armed services in the event of a national emergency.  Right now, women are not required to sign up because the law refers specifically to men. Registering does not necessarily mean that a man will go into the military.

United States Motto  Countries often use a motto to symbolize what is important to that country. The United States has a motto “e pluribus unum.” Those Latin words mean “out of many, one.” It was chosen because it describes one nation, the United States, born out of 13 colonies.

United States Motto  The motto “e pluribus unum” is on the Great Seal of the United States. It was suggested by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson as they selected the country’s seal in The motto also appears on one side of every U.S. coin.

The Great Seal of the United States “e pluribus unum”