Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Definition of a Citizen

• A citizen belongs legally to a country/state and has rights and protections.
• 14th Amendment:
  • Defines citizens as born or naturalized in the U.S.

Natural-Born Citizens

• Law of Soil: Born in the U.S.
• Law of Blood: Born elsewhere but with at least one U.S. citizen parent.

Naturalization Process

• Eligibility:
  • Must be 18 years old.
  • Legal resident for 5 years.
  • Good moral character.
  • Basic English understanding.
• Steps:
  1. Permission to live in the U.S.
  2. Background check and fingerprinting.
  3. Interview.
  4. Pass Civics and English test (after 5 years).
  5. Oath of Allegiance (final step).

Obligations and Responsibilities

Obligations (Duties)

• Obey the law.
• Pay taxes.
• Serve on juries.
• Defend the nation.

Responsibilities (Suggestions)

• Voting.
• Attending Civic meetings.
• Petitioning the government.
• Running for office.

The Bill of Rights

Key Amendments

• First Amendment: Freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion, petition.
• Second Amendment: Right to bear arms.
• Third Amendment: No quartering of soldiers.
• Fourth Amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
• Fifth Amendment: Due process, no double jeopardy, eminent domain.
• Sixth Amendment: Speedy trial, lawyer, and jury.
• Seventh Amendment: Jury in civil trials.
• Eighth Amendment: No cruel and unusual punishment.
• Ninth Amendment: Rights not listed belong to people.
• Tenth Amendment: Powers not listed belong to states/people.

Other Important Amendments

• 13th Amendment: Abolishes slavery.
• 14th Amendment: Defines citizenship, equal protection under the law.
• 15th Amendment: Voting rights to African-American men.
• 19th Amendment: Women's right to vote (suffrage).
• 24th Amendment: Abolishes poll taxes.
• 26th Amendment: Voting age lowered to 18.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Judicial Review

• Marbury vs. Madison: Establishes judicial review.

14th Amendment - Equal Protection

• Plessy vs. Ferguson: "Separate but equal" doctrine.
• Brown vs. Board of Education: Ends segregation in public schools.

Rights of the Accused

• Gideon vs. Wainwright: Right to a lawyer.
• Miranda vs. Arizona: Right to remain silent and to a lawyer.
• In re Gault: Juveniles’ right to due process.

Free Speech Cases

• Tinker vs. Des Moines: Students’ right to free speech.
• Hazelwood vs. Kuhlmeier: Limits on student speech if disruptive.

Executive Branch Involvement

• United States vs. Nixon: President not above the law.
• Bush vs. Gore: Supreme Court's role in the 2000 election.

Conclusion

• This lecture is part of a series on preparing for the Civic state exam, with more topics like government and politics to follow.
• Practice tests and additional resources are available for teachers.