1. Dalton Chapter 2
By Zachary Ivey

2. History of Citizenship
The theory of citizenship has been around as long as politics have existed, dating back to Aristotle and Plato.
Aristotle observed that citizens are “all who share in the civic life of ruling and being ruled in turn”.
Citizenship has been around as long as democracy, and in America, all of the different parties, republicans, liberals, social democrats, neo-liberals, and communitarians along with all the other parties that our country has split into differs greatly in their interpretation of the meaning of the word citizenship.

3. In Theory…
An open definition of citizenship is basically what people think it means to be a ‘good citizen’.
For Dalton’s study, citizenship is a shared set of expectations about the citizen’s role in politics.
Citizenship in Daltons study is not a legal national status or legal right.
According to Almond and Verba’s description of political culture is a set of social norms. That culture contains both attitudes and orientations with citizenship being the central point. These tell the citizens not only what to expect of themselves, but others as well, even if the person does not agree with the views. A person might claim it is important to be a law abiding citizen in the country, but often break the law through minor infractions.

4. Democratic citizenship is public participation.
The government is founded on the idea that citizens will partake in decision making.
Citizens need to determine for themselves how much they want to or should participate in democracy.
Public participation is a defining element of the US democracy. Democracy by rule is participation by choice. One argument is that a current decrease in electoral participation is compromising the democratic process of our nation. Another point is that the current state of American society has increased the typical citizen to be more politically active. Current trends indicate that America citizens are participating politically in ways beyond just elections.

5. As seen by the Government
Citizens are “protected by the law” and thus “must obey the law.”
Obedience is a central tenant of new citizenship.
This includes voting, paying taxes, and serving in the military if needed.
State sovereignty is acceptance of the legitimacy of the state and rule of the law. This sovereignty is stressed as being important to democracies from Bodin, to Hobbes, and Hamilton, they all pushed for the authority of the state. This idea of ruling and being ruled is primary to the very definition of citizenship in America.

6. Social Citizenship Social citizenship is based on ethics.
It has a moral responsibility to others.
The idea being that if a person’s basic needs are not met, that person will never participate in
Democracy.
Citizenship is not just our relationship to our government, but also our relationship with each other. This ideal is based on the idea of “distributive justice” which is equality amongst the citizens. If the citizens are equipped with their basic needs met, it allows for more participation in democracy. Distributive justice and equality are foundational in the responsibilities of human rights.

7. 3 Components of Citizenship
Participation
State Authority
Social Rights
These 3 must be in balance for the democratic citizenship to work. Experts say that all 3 are declining in America. As they decline, the norms of citizenship are changing.

8. Elements of Citizenship
Participation
Autonomy
Social order
Solidarity
According to surveys done by General Social Survey and Center for Democracy and Civil Society, these elements make up citizenship. Examples of participation would be voting in elections, joining a political association, and being active in voluntary organizations. Autonomy would be forming your own opinions, understanding others reasoning's and opinions. An example of social order would be to obey laws and paying your taxes, serving in the military in times of war, and reporting crimes you witness. Solidarity would be helping others who are less fortunate than you, including those abroad.

9. Citizen Duty/ Engaged Citizenship
This is a part of the norms of citizenship.
It encompasses all 4 elements of citizenship.
It is closely fused with the responsibilities of being a citizen.
To be Engaged is going above the normal elements.
Citizen duty is taking on the responsibilities of being a citizen. Because of this, the motivations come from the same impulse that motivates people to be law abiding citizens. When one follows their duty, they would fall into the category of a ‘good citizen’. An Engaged citizen not only has all 4 elements of citizenship, they also participate in non-electoral activities, and civil groups.

10. Duty vs. Engaged Citizen Duty Engaged Citizen Vote Military Taxes
Obey law
Socially Active
Watch Government
Better World
Better US
Products
Understanding
The citizen has a duty to vote, join the military as needed, pay his taxes, and obey the law. Duty based is traditional with a few variations. It also stressed the duties but with a limited participatory role. But the engaged citizen goes above those things. The engaged citizen is making his nation and the world better, and has an increased understanding of his responsibilities. As seen in the diagram, there is an overlap of the two, where we find the individual is socially active and mindful of the government. The engaged citizen is very pointed about participation, including exclusive activities and direct action.

11. On the Decline?
Many believe that citizen duty is being overlooked by the younger generations.
Older generations are more likely to vote and keep up with the electoral races.
They also have a higher respect for authority and the law.
2008 Election
Principals of citizenship have changed through generations, which is evidenced in the way we see older generations and their relationship with not only the law but politics. The question is if citizen duty/engagement is on the decline? The 2008 Obama/McCain presidential election is an indictor that young people will rise to the occasion when it is a social issue that is presented. In this election, we see that young people are answering the call of duty and engagement in their own way, thus analysts believe that the norms of citizenship are on the change.