Rights and Responsibilities

of Citizens in a Democracy

Content

Inquiry

  • What rights and responsibilities does a citizen have in a democracy?

  • What does it mean to be a citizen?

  • How can citizens improve a democracy?

  • Where in the Constitution does it connect to the courtroom or voting booth experience? Where in the Constitution does it connect to rights guaranteed to all persons? What is the citizen’s role in ensuring these basic rights and protections to all?

Learning Activities

First Amendment (link to the lesson)

C3 Teachers: College, Career, and Civic Life

Content: Understand that the Bill of Rights limits the powers of the federal government and state governments (12.1.6).

Inquiry: Are Students Protected by the First Amendment?

Purpose: Students will learn about the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on American government by contextualizing sources from the Enlightenment period and answering guiding questions.

CCSS Outcomes: Students will be able to:

  • Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources

  • Determine the central ideas of a primary or secondary source

This Land is Our Land

Content Standard: Explain how economic rights are secured and their importance to the individual and to society (e.g., the right to acquire, use, transfer, and dispose of property; right to choose one’s work; right to join or not join labor unions; copyright and patent)(12.2.2). Describe the reciprocity between rights and obligations; that is, why enjoyment of one’s rights entails respect for the rights of others. (12.2.5).

Inquiry:

Purpose: Explore California-specific laws, regulations, policies, and decision-making processes related to environmental decisions and individual rights.

Lessons:

  1. In Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and the Common Good

  2. Civic Virtue: Is It in You?

  3. So, You Want to Own a Gas Station

  4. Whose Beach Is It Anyway?

  5. Reconciling: When Common Goods Collide

Citizenship

  • To promote civic engagement and deepen student understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in this unit, teachers may employ structured group discussions, simulations, classroom debates, and civics-based service-learning activities, designed to provide students with concrete answers to the question "How can citizens improve a democracy?"

  • Students may also participate in classroom mock trials; visit courtrooms; serve as poll workers; participate in voter registration; simulate or visit city council meetings; conduct projects to identify, analyze, and address a community problem; and participate in service-learning at a local hospital, shelter, arts organization, library, or environmental project to study how to address community needs.

  • Students can observe a naturalization ceremony, interview or speak to a recently naturalized student or parent, or speak with legislators or other public officials concerning issues and public policy concerns.