"We the People"
What does it mean to be an American? What are the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship? What is a democracy? In a democracy, leaders are selected by citizens and government is organized in a way in which public policy should reflect the will of the people. In this unit you will learn about some of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in America.
Millions of people around the world long to become American citizens. During the last decade, US Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed more than 6.million naturalized citizens into our nation. This photo is from a naturalization ceremony in Old Salem on Independence Day (Old Salem Museum and Gardens http://wunc.org/tags/old-salem).
As Americans, we enjoy precious freedoms and protection of our liberty that so many people around the world do not possess. The United States Constitution allows "We the People" to have protected rights and liberties through our unique participation in government.
Our Republic
"We the people tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us."
- Ronald Reagan
In other words, a democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." The United States is a republic or an indirect democracy that allows the people to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. A republic works successfully only when its citizens participate in the political process.
Team Work
Citizens are like members of a team. We may not all look exactly the same or have the same ideas about which plays are the most effective, but we all have the same goal, to win the game. As citizens we must do our part to make our team or nation's government run successfully.
"Although our interests as citizens vary, each one is an artery to the heart that pumps life through the body politic, and each is important to the health of democracy." - Bill Moyers, The Nation, Jan. 22, 2007
Responsibilities of Citizens
As a member of a team, we must first get in the game or actually participate in politics. The most crucial and basic way to participate is by exercising our right to vote. There are other ways to take an active role in your government including the following:
- Become knowledgeable about the issues in order to make informed decisions.
- Volunteer in campaigns.
- Contribute money to campaigns and causes.
- Run for a political office.
