Your Rights and Responsibilities of being a Citizen Citizen Me Your Rights and Responsibilities of being a Citizen

HOME/school The people we live with make up the smallest “community” we belong to. Our school or workplace is a community, too. These are the people we interact with outside our homes every day.

CITY/NATION You are a citizen of the city in which you live. You are also a citizen of your country! Mesa

STATE/TERRITORY Our country is made up of 50 states, a district, and 5 territories. You are a citizen of the state or territory where you live.

Where do rights and responsibilities come from? Different places, depending on the level of citizenship.

NATION In the United States, we are guaranteed a list of rights in our Constitution. Rights and responsibilities also come from laws passed by the U.S. Congress!

STATE Each state has its own constitution and laws that list rights and responsibilities of the state’s citizens.

CITY Cities usually have a city charter that tells how the city will run. It usually includes some rights and responsibilities of city citizens. Cities laws called ordinances list more rules that apply in the city.

SCHOOL Most schools have a school handbook that lists the students’ rights and responsibilities.

HOME At home, the adults in charge decide what your rights and responsibilities will be.

Rights are… A privilege or a claim to something.

NATION Guarantees really BIG rights like freedom of speech, freedom to worship, and the right to a jury trial in some kinds of cases. These rights apply to everyone living in the United States! Voting in federal elections, running for federal office, and serving on a jury are rights only for U.S. citizens.

STATE State constitutions usually repeat many of the rights listed in the U.S. Constitution. But often they add more…

School Hey! I don’t see any rights in my school handbook. All I see is stuff kids aren’t supposed to do! Sometimes rights are the flip side of responsibilities So school handbooks are usually the opposite of the U.S. Constitution because they list responsibilities instead of rights.

CITY This gives you the right to services your city provides, like sidewalks or parks.

HOME The adults in charge at home give you rights that only apply at home. For example, you probably have the right to eat the food they buy, and you might have the right to watch TV and play video games.

Responsibilities are… Duties to other people, the government, or to society.

HOME The adults in charge at home give you duties you are only responsible for at home. For example, you might have to sweep the floor, get groceries… or even wash the dog!

SCHOOL At school, you are responsible for following the rules. You already learned that school rules usually tell you what NOT to do.

CITY Laws that apply only within a city are called ordinances. If a city ordinance tells you not to do something then you know you have a responsibility not to do that thing.

Nation The Constitution creates a government that can’t work if people don’t participate! Jury duty is a responsibility U.S. citizens have to others and to the government. Voting is a responsibility U.S. citizens have to our society and the government. Staying informed is a responsibility we have to society. Everyone in the U.S. has a responsibility to obey the law!

STATE For example, your state might have taxes on property you own, on income you earn, and even on the stuff you buy at the store! Paying TAXES is one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll find in a state constitution…