Good Citizenship
Hunter Wilinski, Skylar Prentice, Matt Petter
Who is a U.S. citizen?
A U.S. citizen is a person that has specific rights, responsibilities, and duties. If you're born in the U.S. you're already a citizen. If your from a different country, you have to be in the U.S. for at least 5 years and if you’re married to a U.S. then you only have to live in America for 3 years before you can become a citizen. Every U.S. citizen is issued a green card for proof that they are a legal citizen.
How can someone become a citizen?
If someone is not from the United States and would like to become a citizen they can become naturalized. Doing this is a long process, but well worth it. The person who wants to become a citizen needs to do these steps.
- Complete an application
- Get fingerprinted
- Go to interviews to see determine if you have a good character and good English
- Take an oath to become a U.S. citizen
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Other ways to become a U.S. citizen
- If you are born in another country but one of your parents are an American citizen you are one also.
- If you are under the age of 18 and your parents become naturalized, then you are automatically a citizen too.
Interactive game that asks questions similar to the ones of the naturalization test!
Interactive game that helps understand who can be a citizen!
What are the rights, duties, and responsibilities of good citizenship?
Being an American citizen comes with many rights, duties, and responsibilities.
RIGHTS
- Having privacy in your own home and personal life.
- Educate yourself and continue learning thought life.
- Vote in all elections.
DUTIES
- Pay all of the taxes that you owe.
- Register for the military service, if you are a male.
- Obey laws.
- Join a political party.
- Keep in good physical and mental health.
- Prepare to support yourself financially.
What power does one have with the "office of citizen?"
Abraham Lincoln said that our government is "of the people, by the people, and for the people" by this he meant that government can: make laws, build roads, collect taxes, and make agreements with other countries, only if we, the citizens, want them to. As citizens have the power to decide what government does and doesn't do. We elect representatives, who speak on behalf of citizens in government, because we can not all represent ourselves in government.