1. Citizenship:
A Trip Around the World
Part One

2. What does it mean to be a citizen?

3. Do citizens in all countries have the same rights and responsibilities?

4. is the basic document of citizenship.
In most countries, a
CONSTITUTION
is the basic document of citizenship.
What is a constitution?

5. A constitution. . . Tells what a country’s values are
Tells how a country’s government operates
Tells what rights and responsibilities a country’s citizens have

6. Let’s see how constitutions from some other countries compare to ours…

7. India Region: Asia Capital City: New Delhi Language: Hindi & English
Introducing. . .
India
Region:
Asia
Capital City:
New Delhi
Language:
Hindi & English
Population:
1.17 billion
Area:
3.29 million sq miles

8. Indian Students
Street View
Performers in traditional Indian dress
An old palace known as the Taj Mahal

9. India has one of the longest constitutions in the modern world.
This is only the Preamble! There are 444 articles in the Constitution of India!

10. India
It lays out specific rights, much like the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

11. COMPARE IT! Freedom of Speech
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication…”
India’s Constitution says:
“All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression;
Nothing…shall…prevent the State from making any law [that] imposes reasonable restrictions on [this right] in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, [or] public order, decency, or morality…”
Instead of saying there should be NO law against freedom of speech, India’s constitution says that the government may pass a “reasonable” law against freedom of speech for several different reasons such as security, sovereignty, public order, decency, etc.

12. COMPARE IT! Freedom of the Press
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication …”
India’s Constitution says:
“All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression…” 
There is no separate “freedom of the press” in India’s constitution. 
“Freedom of speech” works double duty!

13. COMPARE IT! Freedom of Religion
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: freedom of conscience and religion …”
India’s Constitution says:
The Indian government reserves the right to check or regulate the practice of religion based on public order, morality, and health.
“Subject to public order, morality and health…all persons are equally entitled to… the right freely to profess, practice, and propagate religion.”

14. COMPARE IT! Equality Under the Law
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination ...”
India’s Constitution says:
“The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”

15. x BUT WAIT! India’s Constitution says:
“It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement…”
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says: x
Teachers: Have students mark their ballots for or against this amendment. 
Should Canada amend its constitution to say what India’s constitution says?

16. Germany Region: Europe Capital City: Berlin Language: German
Introducing. . .
Germany
Region:
Europe
Capital City:
Berlin
Language:
German
Population:
81.7 million
Area:
137,846 square miles

17. The German National Team (Soccer – they call it football!)
Germans showing their patriotism
A small town in Germany
The large city of Frankfurt
The German National Team (Soccer – they call it football!)

18. Germany is made up of many states, similar to the United States.

19. Also like the United States, Germany has a constitution.

20. COMPARE IT! Freedom of Speech
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication…”
Germany’s Constitution says:
“Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources.”
“[This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honor.”

21. COMPARE IT! Freedom of the Press
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication…”
Germany’s Constitution says:
“Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.
[This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honor.
Germany’s constitution protects the press, but has limits when it comes to protecting youth and preserving “personal honor.” Freedom of the press is a right that can be forfeited in Germany.
Whoever abuses the freedom of expression, in particular the freedom of the press …in order to combat the free democratic basic order shall forfeit [this] basic right.”

22. COMPARE IT! Freedom of Religion
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: freedom of conscience and religion …”
Germany’s Constitution says:
“Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom to profess a religious or philosophical creed, shall be inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed.”

23. COMPARE IT! Equality Under the Law
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says:
“Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination .”
Germany’s Constitution says:
“All persons shall be equal before the law.”

24. x BUT WAIT! Germany’s Constitution says:
“Men and women shall have equal rights. The state shall promote the actual implementation of equal rights for women and men and take steps to eliminate disadvantages that now exist.”
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says: x
Teachers: Have students mark their ballots for or against this amendment. 
Should Canada amend its constitution to say what Germany’s constitution says?