Why do we study American Citizenship?

1. Why do we study American Citizenship? Civic engagement.

2. Passport Vocabulary • Civic engagement – the way citizens interact with government around issues of public concern.

3. What is civic engagement • Civic engagement is how one feels about social issues and the way “we” as citizens participate in making a difference in our community and beyond. • Civically engaged people consider themselves to be part of the social fabric, believe they can make a difference and see every person as inherently valuable. • What do feel would be a better definition for civic engagement?

4. Questions • As you are growing and getting older, how engaged are you with political and social issues? • Are there ways you get involved? • Do you participate in school government? • Do you volunteer time working at a campaign office? • How do you feel about the word politics?

5. There are four types of civic engagement: Skeptics Explorers Activists Spectators

6. Skeptics • Skeptics – feel distant from political and social issues, tend to be dissatisfied and find the mistakes in the system, often feel there is no point to politics and/or elections, do not feel that politics is relevant to them, like to critique the system and are able to point out problems but usually do not take action.

7. Explorers • Explorers – want to know everything they can about politics and the issues, tend to be heavy consumers of news and information of all kinds, gather a lot of knowledge but may not always take action.

8. Activists • Activists – spend a lot of time taking action and getting involved in politics and issues they care about, tend to believe they can make a difference and make things happen, tend to be very persuasive and like making their voices heard, like interacting with others to them involved.

9. Spectators • Spectators tend to get their news and current events from other people (family, friends, Facebook, etc.), but do not really keep up with politics and do not usually get directly involved themselves.

10. Historical Background • “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” • - Simply, the first amendment forbids Congress from passing laws that deprive people of the right to political expression, or the right to communicate with or about government.