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Roles of Citizens. By-Anna Yoon, Samira Dani , Rani Rachavelpuha , Carol Anne Ochs, Sarah Doverspike. O beying the law. Law= set of rules that gov’t enforces through police, courts, and other agencies For common good: protect citizens To let people know the expectation
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Roles of Citizens By-Anna Yoon, Samira Dani, RaniRachavelpuha, Carol Anne Ochs, Sarah Doverspike
Obeying the law • Law= set of rules that gov’t enforces through police, courts, and other agencies • For common good: protect citizens • To let people know the expectation • For citizens to live together w/o conflict • Maintains organzation in community, state, country • Provides justice • Everyone is EXPECTED and REQUIRED to obey the laws (moral duty) • State coerce(must be justifiable) people to comply with its laws • Under the rule of law: everyone shall submit to, obey, and be regulated by law
Obeying the Law • It is a crime to break a law • Everyone is presumed to know the law • If laws are broken: • Can be jailed • Fined • Arrested etc. • However, when society believes there should be disobedience of law then disobedience is allowed (social contract) • People are expected and required to drive under the speed limit. If not, the police can give them speed tickets. Speed limits serve to protect people’s lives when on the road. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/citizenship/responsibilities2.html http://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/sac012.htm http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2003/5/18/165957/064
Paying taxes • In GA, everyone is REQUIRED to pay taxes • Taxes pay for many helpful things • health • education • relief and aid for natural disasters • protection, such as police and fire squads • Sales tax in GA= 4% • Sales tax in Fulton Co.= 7% • 1% SPLOST tax (special-purpose-local-option-sales-tax) OPTIONAL and used for capital projects • help with building and maintenance of schools, and parks etc.
Taxes • Fulton Co: 1% MARTA tax • 1% homestead exemption tax • 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax • NO inheritance tax in GA • No tax for groceries and prescriptions in GA http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/citizenship/responsibilities2.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special-purpose_local-option_sales_tax http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_County,_Georgia#Taxation http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/state-taxes-georgia.aspx
Serving on a Jury • U.S. Constitution and the GA Constitution GUARANTEE the right to a trial by a jury of peers. • ALL GA residents are required to serve as jurors unless: • under the age of 18 • not U.S. citizens • do not posses sufficient knowledge of the English language • those who have been convicted of a felony • those whose civil rights have not been restored • When service as a juror is completed, expense checks will be mailed as compensation for each day of service. • Fulton county pays $25/day of service as a juror.
Serving on a Jury • To receive Jury Duty Exemptions: - over the age of 70 may complete an age affidavit -permanently mentally and/or physically disabled may complete a medical affidavit -primary caregivers of children( <6yrs old)may complete a child care exemption -Full-time college students may complete a full-time student exemption • Postponement requests: • submitted to the jury office court clerk 10 days prior to the service court day. • granted at the discretion of the court.
A typical Jury http://www.7jad.com/Jury/Jury%20page.htm http://www.psc.state.ga.us/ http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Simpson/Jurypage.html
Participating in the Political Process • to show interest (action) in the political process • voting is NOT the ONLY way to participate in the political process • Examples: going to precinct meetings • donating money • putting a sign in your yard • facilitating a debate in your town • staffing a voter registration table at the mall • designing brochures
Participation in the Political Process • most common and important way: VOLUNTEERING • volunteers =heart and soul of the campaigns • To vote: must register (18yrs/older U.S. citizens) • Register in the county election office • Register before the election • Participating in the political process is NOT mandatory http://www.vance.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123215290
Performing Public Service • services that the gov’t provides directly/indirectly to its citizens. • includes volunteerism services and contribution to the community. • Public services include: • Education • Health services • Police Services • Social services • Telecommunications • Waste services • Volunteerism (helping your community) • The term “Public Services” is very broad and encompasses a widevariety of government and volunteer work services.
Volunteers working at a soup kitchen http://money.howstuffworks.com/economics/volunteer/opportunities/volunteer-at-soup-kitchen.htm
Military Duty • To protect the country • During war: physically able men called upon to fight for U.S. • Conscription: involuntary draft • During peace time: enlist voluntarily, as jobs or local militia • Male citizens and foreigners living in US(18-25yrs) REQUIRED by law to register for Selective Service System(draft) • If don’t register, 5yrs in jail or $50,000 • No military drafts authorized since Vietnam War http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/citizenship/responsibilities2.html http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/list-of-u-s-militia-groups/
Draft Process • Cong and P authorize draft • Lottery based on birthday • Selective service activated • Physical, mental, and moral evaluation of registrants • Process registrant claims and send induction orders • Induction • (ex) Vietnam War and World War II
Current issues • Knowing about issues in the world & U.S. (cognizant) • Strive for Democracy • Congress laws • Obama’s healthcare plans • Informed citizens: more choices/Actions (knowledge) • Influence politics by voting according to their views
current issues • Helps us to pursue our rights: • to access information • to vote • to meaningful speech • to have a thriving democracy • NOT REQUIRED to be informed of current issues People vote more wisely when they are more educated of the issues and the candidates that they are voting for. http://adrianmonck.com/2008/10/the-benefits-of-being-informed/ http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr084.shtml
Respecting different Opinons • All Americans expected to RESPECT the rights of others • Right: opinions, free speech, press • U.S: Democracy • diverse opinons and people (all opinions heard) • Polite: may disagree but still be respectful • Citizens NOT required to respect differing opinons • However, respect for different opinion=crucial • Better society (peaceful society) • More inputs of ideas (point of views)
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/citizenship/responsibilities2.htmlhttp://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/citizenship/responsibilities2.html http://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/sac012.htm http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2003/5/18/165957/064