What does “E Pluribus Unum” Stand For?

1. What does “E Pluribus Unum” Stand For?

2. Who Are America’s Citizens? • You are a Citizen by birth if you meet any of the following: • Born in the U.S. (50 states or D.C.), or any of its territories or military bases • If you are born elsewhere & both parents are citizens or one is a citizen who has lived in the U.S.

3. Who Are America’s Citizens? • Naturalization: Legal process of becoming a citizen • Alien: Non-citizens who live in a country • Immigrant: Move from one country to another to live • More than 500,000 immigrants to the U.S. per year

4. Who Are America’s Citizens? • The Naturalization Process: • File Declaration of Citizenship • Must be in U.S. 5 years (3 if married to a citizen) • Be 18+ & resident of your state for more than 3 months • Background interview and test taken • Oath of Allegiance taken: any kids naturalized citizen may have under 18 become citizens too

5. A Lifelong Privilege • Citizenship is a lifelong privilege unless… • Denaturalization: Giving improper information during naturalization process • Expatriation: Giving up your citizenship to become citizen of another country • Punishment for a crime: Treason, violent rebellious act against the government

6. Aliens in America • U.S. today limits # of immigrants to around 1 million per year • Recent emphasis on allowing those who are most likely to become productive, working citizens into country

7. Aliens in America Illegal Immigrants: • More than 12 million illegal aliens living in U.S. • Some come temporarily & stay, some come in illegally • Not legal to hire illegal immigrants • U.S. Border Patrol created to police U.S.-Mexico, U.S.-Canadian border & waters around Florida • Deport: Send back to country of citizenship

8. Aliens in America Legal Immigrants: • Resident Alien: Has come to the United States to live permanently • Nonresident Alien: Only in the United States temporarily • TV reporter from foreign country reporting on World Cup Soccer in U.S. • Aliens have same legal protections as U.S. citizens • Do not have right to vote, run for office, or sit on juries

9. Types of Government • Types of Democracy • Democracy – A government in which citizens hold the power to rule. • Direct democracy – a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand. • Representative democracy – A government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf.

10. Republic – a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers. • Constitutional Monarch – The monarchs are heads of state only, presiding at the ceremonies and serving as symbols of unity. • Democratic Principles • Voting and Democracy – Free, fair and competitive elections • Voters have choice – Competitive elections and competing political parties are an important in democracies • Majority rule – citizens agree that when differences of opinion arise, they will abide by what most people want.

11. Authoritarian Governments • Authoritarian – a government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power. • Absolute Monarch – Monarchs had unlimited authority to rule as they wished. (Technically 2 still remain today – king of Saudi Arabia and the emir of Qatar)

12. Dictatorships – Dictators exercise complete control over the state. Dictators generally acquire power through force. • Totalitarianism – The governments control extends to almost every aspect of people’s lives. • Most dictators impose a totalitarian state • Ban political opposition and suppress individual freedoms • Regulate farms and industries

13. Duties & Responsibilities of Citizens Responsibilities: Things we SHOULD do, voluntary actions Duties: Things that we are REQUIRED to do as citizens

14. Duties & Responsibilities of Citizens 5 Duties of U.S. Citizens: 1. Obey laws: Federal, State & Local 2. Pay Taxes: 3. Defend the country in wartime: the draft for men 18 to 25 if necessary 4. Serve on Juries: 5. Attend School:

15. Duties & Responsibilities of Citizens 4 Civic Responsibilities of Citizens: 1. Be informed on government actions and decisions that may impact your life 2. Make your voice heard on key issues and government officials by voting 3. Respect the rights of others: Don’t create panic, tolerate views different than your own • Drag racing on public roads puts the lives of others in danger 4. Contribute to the common good: Volunteering time and money, helping others in need, etc…

16. Citizen Involvement • Every year, more than half of Americans do some kind of volunteer work • Volunteering can improve the lives of others and make communities safer places to live and work

17. Citizen Involvement Bureaucracies: Complex systems with many departments, many rules and many people in the chain of command • How governments are organized, can be slow to adapt to change

18. Citizen Involvement • Welfare: The health, happiness and prosperity of all those in the community Donating Time & Money: • Many opportunities within the community to volunteer & contribute • More than $250 billion is donated to charity on a yearly basis • Average American donates about 2 percent of income Volunteerism: Offering time and effort to others without payment

19. Volunteers in Action Charitable Organizations: More than 1 million charities available to donate either time or money School-Based Programs: Some schools require community service for graduation National Service Programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Freedom Corps

20. Citizen Involvement • Voluntary Spirit: Citizens pitch in to solve problems rather than relying on government. • 50,000+ people volunteer for AmeriCorps every year