All the layers to YOUR citizenship!

I wonder what a CITIZEN is?

A citizen is… A. a person who does good deeds. THANKS! C. a member of a community with rights and responsibilities. B. someone involved in politics. D. an adult. TAKE A GUESS!

Of a state? Am I a citizen of my school? So does that mean that I’m a citizen? Of a city? We’re citizens of SOMETHING, right?

A community is group of people that share an environment. Every day you are part of several different layers of community. That means you have many different levels of citizenship!

Levels The people we live with make up the smallest “community” we belong to. Nation State City Home School Write “People I live with” here:

Levels Our school or workplace is a community too. These are the people we interact with outside our homes every day. Nation State City Home School Record the name of your school here… SCHOOL

Levels You are a citizen of the city in which you live. Nation State School City Home Record the name of your city (or the city or town closest to you) here…

Our country is made up of 50 states (and a district, too!). You are a citizen of the state where you live. Nation State School Levels Home City Write the name of your state here…

You are also a citizen of your country! Nation State School Levels City Home Write down the name of the nation in which you live here…

Nation State School Levels Your School United States State Name WAIT! Why should I care? Nearest City or Town Home City “People I live with”

Where do these rights and responsibilities come from? Let’s find out!

If being a citizen means having rights and responsibilities, where do rights and responsibilities come from?

We get our rights and responsibilities as citizens from… A. different places depending on the level of citizenship. THANKS AGAIN! C. politicians. B. one member of the community who decides for us. D. the President. TAKE A GUESS!

In the United States we are guaranteed a list of rights in our constitution. United States Constitution

State City Origins Record it here! U.S. Constitution Home School Nation

Each state has its own constitution that guarantees rights to the state’s citizens. State Constitution

State City Origins Record it here! U.S. Constitution Home School Nation State Constitution STATE

Cities usually have a city charter. This document tells how the city will run. It usually contains some rights and responsibilities of city citizens. City Charter

State City Origins Record it here! U.S. Constitution Home School Nation State Constitution City Charter CITY

Most schools have a school handbook that lists the students’ rights and responsibilities. (mostly responsibilities—more about that later!) School Handbook SCHOOL

State City Origins Record it here! U.S. Constitution Home School Nation State Constitution City Charter School Handbook SCHOOL

At home, the adults in charge decide what your rights and responsibilities will be. Maybe these will get written down—but usually not! HOME

State City Origins Record it here! U.S. Constitution Home School Nation State Constitution City Charter School Handbook Adults in Charge HOME

State City Origins U.S. Constitution Home School Nation State Constitution City Charter School Handbook Adults in Charge Good Job!

Now let’s look at some examples of the kinds of RIGHTS citizens have at each layer of citizenship!

Now that I know where rights and responsibilities come from… What are rights??

Rights are… A. things adults get to do. GOT IT! C. electric bulbs that let you read in the dark. B. privileges the President has. D. a privilege or a claim to something. TAKE A GUESS!

So, what kinds of rights do citizens have at each level? RIGHTS

RIGHTS You would need a pyramid the size of the ones in EGYPT to list all the rights citizens have at each level. Let’s just list a few examples:

NATION Guarantees really BIG rights like freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the freedom to assemble in groups. United States Constitution

State City Record it here! Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble in groups Home School Nation United States Constitution Rights

STATE State constitutions usually repeat many of the rights listed in the U.S. Constitution. But often they add more… State Constitution For example, your state constitution might guarantee the right to a free education, or the right for kids under 14 not to work.

State City Record it here! Home School Nation Right to free education, Right of children not to work Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble in groups Discuss It: Why don’t you think the U.S. Constitution gives the right to education? Should it? State Constitution Rights

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

State City Origins Home School Nation Right to use sidewalks and parks Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble in groups Right to free education, Right of children not to work Discuss It: Would it be a problem if the U.S. Constitution talked about sidewalks? City Charter Record it here! CITY

Hey! I don’t see any rights in my school handbook. All I see is stuff kids aren’t supposed to do! School Handbook SCHOOL

I can answer that one! Sometimes rights… Rights Responsibilities …are the flip side of responsibilities.

So if the handbook says you can’t do something…... it is silently giving the right to do something else. You have the right to bring a regular wallet. No wallets with chains!

So school handbooks are usually the opposite of the U.S. Constitution because they list responsibilities instead of rights. Try out some examples of how responsibilities can silently tell you what your rights are!

“Do not throw food in the lunch room” is silently saying you have the right to : Eat in the lunch room!

“Students must be seated during athletic activities” is silently saying you have the right to : Attend athletic activities!

“No t-shirts with inappropriate slogans” is silently saying you have the right to : Wear appropriate t-shirts to school!

State City Rights Record it here! Home School Nation Attend sports, eat in lunchroom Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble in groups Right to free education, Right of children not to work Right to use sidewalks and parks Discuss It: What rights do you have at your school? SCHOOL

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. Adults in Charge HOME

State City Record it here! Home School Nation TV, video games, eat food Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble in groups Right to free education, Right of children not to work Right to use sidewalks and parks Attend sports, eat in lunchroom Remember: These are all just examples! Rights HOME

Yikes! What does this mean?? RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities are… A. things only adults have to do. COOL! C. unpleasant activities adults force kids to do. B. duties we have to other people, to the government, or to the law. D. chores you do outside. TAKE A GUESS!

The adults in charge at home give you duties you are only responsible for at home. For example, you might have to make your bed, walk the dog, or wash the dishes.

State City Record it here! Home School Nation Make bed, walk dog, wash dishes Discuss It! What responsibilities do you have at home? Responsibilities

Well! I don’t have any trouble figuring out what my responsibilties at school are! They’re all listed right in the school handbook! SCHOOL

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

Responsibilities State City Record it here! Home School Nation Behave in class No gum, hats, weapons Discuss It: What responsibilities do you have at your school? Make bed, walk dog, wash dishes SCHOOL

City charters often contain rules, kind of like a school handbook. Laws that apply only within a city are called ordinances. CITY

If a city ordinance tells you not to do something... …then you know you have a responsibility not to do that thing.

Even if the ordinance just says what the punishment is... …you can still figure out that you have a responsibility not to do that thing.

State City Home School Nation No barking dogs, No kites in park Remember: These are just examples! What responsibilities do you have in your town? Record it here! Make bed, walk dog, wash dishes Behave in class No gum, hats, weapons ResponsibilitiesCITY

STATE Paying TAXES is one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll find in a state constitution… State Constitution 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!

Make bed, walk dog, wash dishes Behave in class No gum, hats, weapons No barking dogs, No kites in park State City Record it here! Home School Nation Property tax, income tax, sales tax Discuss It: What do you think the state uses your taxes for? State Constitution Responsibilities

NATION The Constitution does not have a list of responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. United States Constitution

Read what the Constitution says about treason:

From this, you can figure out that citizens of the United States have a responsibility not to commit what? TREASON

Treason can be two things: 1) Making _______ against the United States. 2) Giving _______ and ____________ to enemies of the United States. war aid comfort war war comfort aid aid comfort

The Constitution guarantees the right to vote… …but what would happen if voting day came and nobody voted? But that’s not all!

Voting is a responsibility we have… …because our society can’t function without it!

State City Responsibilities Record it here! Vote Don’t commit treason Home School Nation Make bed, walk dog, wash dishes Behave in class No gum, hats, weapons No barking dogs, No kites in park Property tax, income tax, sales tax

State City Vote Don’t commit treason Home School Nation Make bed, walk dog, wash dishes Behave in class No gum, hats, weapons No barking dogs, No kites in park Property tax, income tax, sales tax

NICE JOB! Now, following your teacher’s instructions, build your Citizenship Pyramid !