essay on responsibility of citizen

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9. the responsibilities of citizenship.

Still, there are differences when it comes to which aspects are considered very important (as opposed to somewhat important), and points of emphasis differ by party identification as well as by age.

Overall, 91% say it is either very (74%) or somewhat (17%) important to vote in elections in order to be a good citizen; just 8% say this is not too or not at all important.

Large shares also say it is important to pay all the taxes you owe (92%) and to always follow the law (96%), including about seven-in-ten who say each is very important (71% and 69%, respectively).

For several other traits and behaviors, about nine-in-ten say they are at least somewhat important to good citizenship. However, the share saying each is very important varies significantly. For example, 89% say it’s important to serve jury duty if called, including 61% who say this is very important. While a comparable 90% say it’s important to follow what’s happening in government and politics as part of good citizenship, a smaller share (49%) says this very important.

Protesting government actions you think are wrong and knowing the Pledge of Allegiance are considered important parts of what it means to be a good citizen, though they rank somewhat lower on the public’s list. Displaying the American flag ranks last among the 11 items tested in the survey. Still, a majority says this is either a very (36%) or somewhat (26%) important part of what it means to be a good citizen.

About three-quarters of Republicans and Republican leaners (76%) and Democrats and Democratic leaners (75%) say it’s very important to vote in elections.

Similarly, comparable majorities of Republicans and Democrats say it’s very important to pay all the taxes you owe, serve jury duty if called, respect the opinions of those you disagree with and participate in the census. There also are no partisan divides over the importance of volunteering to help others and following what’s going on in government and politics.

However, Republicans (79%) are more likely than Democrats (61%) to say it’s very important to always follow the law to be a good citizen.

Knowing the Pledge of Allegiance ranks higher on Republicans’ list (71% say it’s very important) than Democrats’ (just 34% say it’s very important). In addition to placing greater importance on the Pledge of Allegiance, Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to say it is very important to display the American flag (50% vs. 25%).

By contrast, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to think it is very important to protest if government actions are believed to be wrong: About half of Democrats (52%) this is very important to what it means to be a good citizen, compared with just about a third (35%) of Republicans.

Partisans and ‘leaners’ differ over importance of aspects of citizenship

On many items, the views of independents that lean toward one of the two major parties diverge from those of self-identifying Republicans and Democrats. In general, partisan leaners tend to be less likely than straight Republicans and Democrats to view a range of responsibilities as important to what it means to be a good citizen.

Overall, 83% of Republicans say voting in elections is a very important aspect of being a good citizen, compared with a smaller majority of Republican leaners (67%). There is an even wider 28-point gap between the share of Democrats (86%) and Democratic leaners (58%) who say this is very important.

Similarly, roughly two-thirds of both Republicans (64%) and Democrats (68%) say participating in the U.S. census every 10 years is very important to being a good citizen; slightly fewer Republican leaners (55%) and Democratic leaners (53%) say the same.

By comparison, smaller majorities of Democrats (67%) and Democratic leaners (60%) say it’s important to know the pledge. Self-identifying Democrats (42%) are significantly more likely to say knowing the pledge is a very important part of good citizenship than Democratic leaners (24%).

There is a 22-point gap between the share of Republicans (90%) and Republican leaners (68%) who say displaying the American flag is at least somewhat important to being a good citizen. And 63% of Republicans call this very important, compared with 35% of Republican leaners. About half of Democrats (52%) think this is a very or somewhat important aspect of good citizenship; 43% of Democratic leaners say the same.

Age differences in views of the responsibilities of citizenship

Young adults place less importance on many aspects of citizenship than older adults, especially when it comes to the share that describes a trait or behavior as very important for being a good citizen.

Majorities of adults across all ages say it is very important to vote in elections in order to be a good citizen. Still, a smaller majority of those under 30 say this (56%), compared with larger shares of those ages 30 to 49 (72%), 50 to 64 (76%) and 65 and older (92%).

And while fully 81% of those 65 and older say that to be a good citizen it is very important to serve jury duty if called, just about half (47%) of those under 30 say the same.

Displaying the American flag and knowing the Pledge of Allegiance do not rank particularly highly for young adults on their list of important characteristics for good citizenship. Among those ages 18 to 29, 63% say it is important to know the Pledge of Allegiance (38% very important) and 53% say it is important to display the American flag (19% very important). These items do not top the list of older adults either, though those 65 and older are more likely than the youngest adults to say both are important parts of being a good citizen.

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4: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens

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Robert W. Maloy & Torrey Trust
University of Massachusetts via EdTech Books

Supporting Question

What is the role of the individual in maintaining a healthy democracy?

"A citizen is a participatory member of a political community. Citizenship is gained by meeting the legal requirements of a national, state, or local government" (quoted from Center for the Study of Citizenship, Wayne State University, 2021).

In the United States, both citizens and non-citizens have rights and responsibilities in their civic, political, and private lives; that is, they enjoy the freedoms of a democratic society while having responsibilities they are expected to perform including obeying laws, voting in elections, working with elected leaders, engaging in peaceful protest, and affirming the fundamental principles of American political and civic life.

U.S. history has numerous examples of individuals who showed political courage and leadership in support of democratic values and freedoms, but it also includes multiple times when individuals and groups failed to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In modern society, public and private interest groups, political action committees, and labor unions more than individual citizens play powerful roles in lobbying for social and economic change.

In the video below, Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch discuss the importance of citizenship and voting (Note: The YouTube version of the video does not provide closed captions. For the original video with closed captions, go to the CBS News page ).

Topic 4 explores the rights and responsibilities of citizens in our democracy. It consists of 13 modules ranging from how to become a citizen to the different ways that each of us can actively participate in political and civic life through voting, public service, political protest, and membership in public and private interest groups.

4.1: Becoming a Citizen The process for becoming a U.S. citizen. The question of what it means for Puerto Ricans to be citizens when Puerto Rico is not a state. Controversies over when someone should be granted asylum in the United States.
4.2: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens and Non-Citizens The responsibilities of citizens, and the specific rights of citizens and non-citizens. The suspension of rights of Japanese Americans interned in camps by the U.S. government during World War II. The question of which individuals or groups deserve a national day of recognition for fighting to establish and preserve civil rights and civil liberties.
4.3: Civic, Political, and Private Life The distinctions between civic, political, and private life. The impact on these areas of life from COVID-19 policies, women's participation in politics, and proposed policies of guaranteed jobs or universal basic income.
4.4: Fundamental Principles and Values of American Political and Civic Life Exploration of four of the shared principles and values of American political and civic life: equality, rule of law, limited government, and representative government. How the 14th Amendment to the Constitution has extended these principles and values to African Americans and other marginalized groups. The protections and limits of students' rights at school.
4.5: Voting and Citizen Participation How who votes or doesn't vote is impacted by voter apathy and lack of access to votes. Limitations on the voting of African American and other minority groups through poll taxes, literacy tests, and voter restriction laws. Possible methods for increasing voter turnout, especially of young people.
4.6: Election Information The influence of persuasion, propaganda, and political language on elections. The history of presidential debates in U.S. elections. The issue of whether campaigns should be publicly financed.
4.7: Leadership and the Qualities of Political Leaders Examples of political leadership as an appointed official (Frances Perkins), an activist (Margaret Sanger), and an elected official (Harvey Milk). The contributions of Black inventors such as Benjamin Banneker and George Washington Carver to math, science, and politics. Who people today consider the most famous Americans.
4.8: Cooperation between Individuals and Leaders How ordinary people can effectively communicate their concerns to their political leaders. Includes examination of contacting members of Congress, the changes achieved by youth activists, and the effects of boycotts and buycotts.
4.9: Public Service as a Career Options for a career working for local, state, or federal governments, with an emphasis on education. Brief examination of the history of public education in America and the importance of teaching as a career.
4.10: Liberty in Conflict with Equality or Authority Attempts in the United States, both historically and in the modern day, for marginalized individuals and groups to gain the freedom they need to be full participants in a democratic society. Includes an overview of the civil rights movements for African Americans, Latinos, women, workers, and LGBTQ people; a case study of the U.S.'s annexation of Hawaii; and controversies over the rights of transgender students in K-12 schools.
4.11: Political Courage and Those Who Affirmed or Denied Democratic Ideals Case studies of individuals who displayed political courage and affirmed democratic ideals through their actions: Joseph Cinque and John Quincy Adams in the Amistad case; John Scopes; Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong in the Delano Grape Strike; and Claudette Colvin. Cases in American history where democratic ideals were denied, including race massacres, the Indian Wars, and McCarthyism and the Red and Lavender Scares.
4.12: The Role of Political Protest Forms of political protest, including the civil disobedience practiced by Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.; the struggles against child labor, discrimination towards LGBTQ oppression, and environmental racism in the form of the March of the Mill Children, Stonewall Uprising, and Standing Rock Pipeline Protest; and the impact of anti-war literature and protest songs.
4.13: Public and Private Interest Groups How interest groups, political action committees, and labor unions can influence public policy. Case study of the impact made by the Pullman Strike of 1894, which affected railroads across the nation. The role of money in elections, and where it can be sourced.

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Social Justice — Responsibilities Of An American Citizen

Responsibilities of an American Citizen

Categories: Social Justice

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Published: Mar 25, 2024

Words: 621 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Introduction, active participation in the democratic process, promoting social justice, contributing to the betterment of communities.

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The Responsibility Of Citizens

"Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, judges and governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature."

- Thomas Jefferson (Letter to Edward Carrington January 16, 1787)

Background and original intent.

"Need I infer, that it is the duty of every citizen to use his best and most unremitting endeavours for preserving it [the Constitution] pure, healthful, and vigorous? For the accomplishment of this great purpose, the exertions of no one citizen are unimportant. Let no one, therefore harbour, for a moment, the mean idea, that he is and can be of no value to his country: let the contrary manly impression animate his soul. Every one can, at many times, perform, to the state, useful services; and he, who steadily pursues the road of patriotism, has the most inviting prospect of being able, at some times, to perform eminent ones."

Wilson's argument is quite as sound now as it was two centuries ago. The success of the American Republic as a political structure has been the consequence, in a very large part, of the voluntary participation of citizens in public affairs - enlisting in the army in time of war; serving on school boards; taking part unpaid in political campaigns; petitioning legislatures; supporting the President in an hour of crisis; and in a hundred other great ways, or small-assuming responsibility for the common good. The Constitution has functioned well, most of the time, because conscientious men and women have given it flesh.

The Premises of Americans' Responsibility Under the Constitution of 1787

The Framers' first assumption was that all just authority for government comes from the people, under God; not from a monarch or a governing class, but from the innumerable citizens who make up the public. The people delegate to government only so much power as they think it prudent for government to exercise. Government is the people's creation, not their master. Thus, if the people are sovereign, it is the citizens' responsibility to take upon their shoulders the task of seeing that order, justice, and freedom are maintained.
The Framers' second assumption was that American citizens would undertake responsibility for the ordinary functioning of the civil social order and that local communities would manage their own affairs. Under their system, the roles of the various levels of government would be minimal and would not unnecessarily intrude into the day-to-day lives of the citizens.
America's citizens, most of them, have believed in a moral order ordained by divine wisdom; and so they have assumed moral responsibilities, including personal responsibility for constitutional government. The more thoughtful citizens have seen society as primarily moral in origin: a community of souls. Behind the outward forms of American political structure lie the old convictions that citizens have duties toward a Creator and toward other members of the society, and that a just government must recognize moral law.
In family, church, and school, until the middle of the twentieth century, the rising generation of Americans were taught that they must be personally responsible for their own welfare, for the care of their aging family members, for the security and prosperity of their community, for their patrimony of order and justice and freedom, A sense of responsibility is developed by severe lessons, by private risk and accountability, by a humane education, by religious understanding, by knowledge of the past. Once upon a time, this sense of responsibility was diffused throughout the American nation. If it drains away, the consequences will be dreary.

A republic whose citizens - whose leaders, indeed - are concerned chiefly with "looking out for Number One," and ignoring their responsibilities of citizenship, soon cannot "insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare" - or carry on the other major duties of the state. When the crisis comes, the people may turn in desperation to the hero-administrator, the misty figure somewhere at the summit. But in the end, that hero-administrator will not save the republic, although he may govern for a time by force. A democratic republic cannot long endure unless a great many of its citizens stand ready and willing to brighten the corner where they are, and to sacrifice much for the nation, if need be.

Has The Consciousness of Responsibility Withered in America?

"... closer centralization; a steadily growing bureaucracy; State power and faith in State power increasing; social power and faith in social power diminishing; the State absorbing a continually larger proportion of the national income; production languishing; the State in consequence taking over one 'essential industry' after another, managing them with ever-increasing corruption, inefficiency, and prodigality, and finally resorting to a system of forced labor. Then at some point in this process a collision of State interests, at least as general and as violent as that which occurred in 1914, will result in an industrial and financial dislocation too severe for the asthenic [weak] social structure to bear; and from this the State will be left to 'the rusty death of machinery' and the casual anonymous forces of dissolution."

Responsibilities Are Readily Forgotten

"Democracy in the United States will endure until those in power learn that they can perpetuate themselves through taxation."

In other words, the temptation of public men in Washington is always to offer to have the federal government assume fresh responsibilities - with consequent decay of local and private vigor (it might be argued that, at least in part, a failure in the proper exercise of citizens' responsibility permitted the development of the welfare state syndrome - that the government owes them a living. In any event, once it got under way and the welfare state grew, the sense of citizens' responsibility and rugged individualism deteriorated).

The increase of the scale of society and the size of government has bewildered many Americans, inclining them to think that the individual can accomplish little or nothing in a responsible way, engulfed as he seems to be by the overwhelmingness of it all. It was easier to see ones personal responsibilities in a Massachusetts township or next door to a Virginia courthouse, in 1787, than it is to perceive what one's duties to country and community may be in the New York or Los Angeles of 1987. When one contemplates the enormous size of the federal government, then the exercise of individual citizen responsibility seems almost hopeless.
Until the 1930s, and in many schools later than that, young people learned their responsibilities through the lively study of history, government, and especially imaginative literature that taught them about human dignity and human duties. But in recent decades, especially during the 1960s and 1970s, the disciplines of history and government have been supplanted by a vague social stew," and the study of great literature and philosophical ideas has given way to anthologies of relevant" - and often depressing - third-rate recent writing. So the function of the schools as places where responsibility would be taught - an expressed hope of several of the Framers of the Constitution, John Dickinson among them - has been ignored.
Of all social institutions, formerly the family was most active and successful in teaching young people their responsibilities. But since the Second World War particularly, the American family has been weakened by economic changes, both parents being gainfully employed (often to pay for increases of taxation, in large part), the triumph of the television set over family conversations, the influence of periodicals read by young people, and a considerable range of challenges to parental authority - many times encouraged by judicial decisions and actions of the education establishment. At the same time, the influence of school teachers and of the clergy in perpetuating this strong sense of responsibility has diminished. So, in some degree, the restoration of a sense of responsibility depends upon the family's recovery of authority.
The fundamental impulse to accept responsibilities and perform duties, in every society, has been religious in origin. Individuals obey moral laws and do their duty because of awareness of duties toward God. Religion teaches that there exist natural laws; and that if individuals try to ignore those natural laws, they find themselves in peril, individually and as a society. People who deny the reality of the Divine tend to shrug off their responsibilities to other men and women. Thus, weakness in religious awareness commonly leads to the decay of personal responsibility in many walks of life.

These are only some of the reasons why a 'permissive" society speaks often of rights and seldom of responsibilities. A time comes, in the course of events, when abruptly there is a most urgent need for men and women ready to fulfill high and exacting and dangerous responsibilities. And if there are no such citizens, then liberty can be lost. It must be remembered that the great strength of the Signers of the Declaration and the Framers of the Constitution was that they knew their classical history, and how the ancient Greek cities had lost their liberties, and how the Roman system had sunk to its ruin under the weight of proletariat and military state.

Prospects For The Renewal Of Responsibility

Like moral virtue, responsibility is first acquired in family and home. Nobody does more to injure a sense of responsibility than a parent who abandons children to the television set and the peer group, "liberating" them from household chores and study at home. Assigning and enforcing duties within home and family, though it may seem stern at first, is kindness to everybody in the long run.
In the family, as well as in the school, the imagination and the intellect can be introduced to the literature of responsibility - for such does exist, and young people are much taken with this literature if they have not already been absorbed into a juvenile "counter-culture." It was not many years ago that boys read, for instance, Theodore Roosevelt's and Henry Cabot Lodge's Hero Tales from American History, with its stirring descriptions of George Washington; of George Rogers Clark conquering the Northwest; of the battles of Trenton, Bennington, King's Mountain, and Stony Point - to confine ourselves to Revolutionary fighting - of Gouverneur Morris, the most brilliant delegate to the Constitutional Convention, with his one leg and his crippled arm, refusing to flee from the Jacobins in Paris. In such true tales one learns what responsibility requires. And it was not many years ago that girls were reading about the heroines of ancient times and modern - about Hypatia, Joan of Arc, Abigail Adams. We learn our duties from learning about men and women who did theirs. One recalls James Wilson's words, quoted at the beginning of this essay: "He, who steadily pursues the road of patriotism, has the most inviting prospect of being able, at some times, to perform eminent ones."
In schools, the pupils need to be rescued from the sham subjects of "social studies" and "civics," ordinarily the most boring and empty disciplines in school curriculum, and introduced instead to real history and to the Constitution and American political institutions. From studying genuine historical figures and genuine politics and literature of the past, young people can come to apprehend what a citizen can do for his country.
Perhaps the best way to renew responsibility in American society is to assume responsibilities one's self. It may be difficult to find the time, and painful to fight one's way into politics at any level; nevertheless, some honest men and women must do so if the Republic is to endure another two centuries - or perhaps to the end of the twentieth century. From running for Congress to campaigning for the office of drain commissioner; from publishing a newspaper to writing a letter to the editor - there is no end to the responsibilities that may be undertaken, to the general benefit. The apparatus for doing one's political duty still exists, thanks to our Constitution.
To fulfill one's moral responsibilities through the agencies of a church, neighborhood, and personal charity may not be exciting; yet the example of duty does win converts, and one lays up treasure in a place unaffected by manipulated currency. To give aid and comfort to fugitives from Communist lands, say, is such an act as the Signers and the Framers would have approved heartily; and it teaches moral responsibility to one's children.
Ultimately, the recovery of a sense of responsibility is bound up with the recovery of the old concept and virtue of piety - gratitude toward God for his gift of life, gratitude toward one's ancestors, concern for one's children and descendants. Such a sense of responsibility is in keeping with the philosophy upon which the nation was built - Creator-endowed rights and responsibilities.

In your own circumstances, you may encounter opportunities for the renewal of responsibility more promising where you live than any suggested here. In any society, it always has been a minority who have upheld order and justice and freedom. If only one out of every ten citizens of the United States of America should vigorously fulfill his responsibilities to our civil social order - why, we would not need to fear for the future of this nation.

In all previous cultures, children ordinarily accepted responsibility for the well-being of their parents in old age; and in various societies, the children were so held accountable in law. Why has this form of responsibility decayed in the twentieth century? Can you think of political and social causes for the care of elderly parents being turned over to public agencies?
Can you name seven or eight voluntary associations or organizations, not subsidized or directed by government, that perform important services in your community or in America generally? Explore the benefits from this kind of involvement as opposed to "letting the government do it."
Responsible citizenship sometimes brings risks - all the way from unpopularity in some local dispute to pushing forward under enemy fire in military action. How may schools help to teach the rising generation the high importance of performing duties that may be dangerous?
Are you and I personally responsible for our decisions and actions, or are we simply creatures of our environment, "conditioned" to respond in one way or another to events and challenges? Marshal the arguments on either side of this question, and then consider the probable social consequences of believing in freedom of the will, or believing that society, rather than the individual person, is responsible for citizen's actions.
What are you doing to help preserve the great principles on which this nation and your personal freedoms are based?

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Responsibilities of Citizenship

This lesson provides

Guiding Questions

What does a good citizen know, believe, and do?
Students evaluate and discuss the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and activities necessary for good citizenship.

Expand Materials Materials

Educator Resources

Handout A: A Good Citizen Answer Key

Student Handouts

Responsibilities of Citizenship Essay

Handout A: A Good Citizen

Handout b: citizen slips, expand key terms key terms.

civil discourse
philanthropic

Expand Prework Prework

Have students read Introductory Essay: Responsibilities of Citizenship .

Instruct students to ask their parents, siblings, or a friend what they believe make makes a good citizen and write down a few responses to share at the beginning of class the following day.

Teacher should cut apart the Citizen Slips on Handout B , and place the small strips of paper in a jar or envelope.

Expand Warmup Warmup

Divide students into groups of three or four and distribute Handout A: A Good Citizen . Give groups five minutes to respond on the Handout regarding the knowledge, beliefs and actions of a good citizen.

Reconvene the class and invite students to share their responses to Handout A . Keep a list of responses on the board.

Expand Activities Activities

Keep students in their small groups and have groups draw 5-10 slips from Handout B: Citizen Slips . In their groups, they should answer the question: At this point in your life, what can you do individually in relationship to the knowledge, belief, or action on the Citizen Slip?

Ask students to put their Citizen Slips into two groups: one for those Slips that describe private exercise of values (e.g. providing for family, keeping one’s promises), and another for Slips that describe public applications of values (e.g. voting, running for office.) In what ways might some of the activities overlap these two categories (private/public)?

Expand Wrap Up Wrap Up

Point out the Alexander Hamilton quote at the end of the essay:

“It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.” (Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1, 1787)

Make a T-chart on the board with columns for positive and negative. Ask students to list a few of the most important types of positive “conduct and example” for the survival of good government. Then have them list some of the negative citizenship behaviors that concern them the most. Conclude by asking, “What can you do now to demonstrate and encourage behaviors that reflect good citizenship? To what extent is it your responsibility to resist and discourage negative behaviors?”

Expand Homework Homework

Have students research local non profit or government agencies whose mission they support. Have them note in their journals, what sorts of things they might be able to help with through volunteer work. Encourage students to follow through with these activities as they are able.

Expand Extensions Extensions

Go to www.goodcitizen.org and select one of their Top 10 Citizen Actions and document yourself completing them via a video recording, podcast, or journal entry.

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1.Good citizens should follow the rules of the nation . 2.They should vote and share their thoughts respectfully. 3.They should not waste the resources of their country. 4.They should kind and understanding to others. 5.Good citizens should help others. 6.They should learn and share knowledge. 7.They should be honest and responsible. 8.They should respect people from different backgrounds. 9.They should Support local events and businesses. 10.They should inspire others and create a better future for all.

Essay on Responsibilities of Good Citizen – 100 Words

Being a good citizen means being responsible. Responsible citizens work for the nation. They get involved in community services. They are respectful and helpful to others. Responsible citizens can help at a local food bank. They also clean up their surroundings. They stay informed about what’s happening in our society. Good citizens are good listeners. They build strong bonds in the community. They do not ignore the common good. They always favour their culture and heritage. They understand that even small acts of kindness matter a lot. We should always follow all these ideas to be responsible citizens. We should never ignore what is good for our nation.

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Responsibilities of Good Citizen 10 lines

Essay on Responsibilities of Good Citizen – 150 Words

Being a responsible citizen is the moral duty of everyone. Responsible citizens follow the law of their country. They pay taxes very timely. They actively help\ others and make a positive difference in their lives. Responsible citizens volunteer their time and skills. They serve meals at a homeless shelter and clean up their neighbourhoods. There are many ways to give back to those in need. They also work for the environment. Responsible citizens take steps to reduce their carbon footprint. They respect diversity and promote equal rights for all individuals regardless of race, gender, or religion. We can be responsible citizens by being accountable for our actions. We should take responsibility for our wrong acts. They do meaningful discussions about the common good. Being a responsible citizen takes effort and purpose. By taking small steps each day, we can make a positive change in the environment. We can all contribute to creating happier communities for everyone.

Essay on Responsibilities of Good Citizen – 200 Words

Being a responsible citizen means more than just obeying the law. It means being responsible and helping make society better. Citizenship is about having values, beliefs, and attitudes that let us take part in community life. One way to become a responsible citizen is by voting. When we vote, we choose leaders who will represent us and make decisions that affect our lives in a positive way. We can also contribute to society by doing community service or giving to charities that help people. We should not keep criticizing our country or community to be responsible citizens. We should find problems and try to take the right actions to end up the issues of our country. The efforts may include framing groups and raising voices for the common good. Talking to the concerned authorities. Respecting others’ rights and fighting for equality is also important to be responsible. We should accept and appreciate differences in race, gender, religion and how much money people have. Treating others with respect and kindness brings people together. It helps people to come forward and work toward common goals. To be a responsible citizens, we need to make good choices when we take part in politics, like voting or peacefully protesting for positive change. We must be involved in our communities, going to meetings, and supporting causes. These factors contribute to making society better. In conclusion, being a responsible citizen means being active in our communities, fighting for rights, and working for the common welfare.

How to become a Responsible Citizen edumantra.net

Essay on How to become a Responsible Citizen – 300 Words

There are many ways to contribute positively to the nation and be a responsible citizen.

Following Laws and Rules:

Obeying laws and rules is an important responsibility of each citizen. It ensures safety and order in our society. By following rules and regulations, we show respect for authority and contribute to a harmonious community where everyone can live together peacefully.

Helping Others:

Being a responsible citizen means lending a helping hand to those in need. We can volunteer our time and skills to support others. Whether it’s mentoring, serving meals at shelters, or participating in community clean-up efforts, our acts of kindness can make a significant positive difference in people’s lives.

Respecting Differences:

Respecting others, regardless of their background or beliefs, is crucial. It means treating everyone with kindness, empathy, and fairness. We should listen to their perspectives, understand their experiences, and embrace diversity. By promoting inclusivity and celebrating our differences, we foster a stronger and more unified society.

Caring for the Environment:

Taking care of our environment is an essential responsibility. We can conserve resources by using them wisely and adopting sustainable practices. Recycling, reducing waste, and supporting eco-friendly initiatives help protect our planet for future generations. By being mindful of our ecological footprint, we contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world.

Participating in the Community:

Active participation in our community is vital for its growth and well-being. We can get involved by attending local events, joining community organizations, or volunteering for neighbourhood projects. By actively engaging in community initiatives, we build stronger connections, foster a sense of belonging, and create a positive and thriving environment for all.

Being Informed:

Staying informed about current events and important issues empowers us to make informed decisions and actively contribute to our society. We can read news from reliable sources, stay updated on social and political developments, and engage in meaningful discussions. Informed citizens play a vital role in shaping a better future for our communities.

Practising Honesty and Integrity:

Honesty and integrity are fundamental values of a responsible citizen. Being honest in our words and actions, taking responsibility for our mistakes, and treating others with fairness and sincerity are important. By practising these virtues, we contribute to a trustworthy and ethical society.

Resolving Conflicts Peacefully:

Conflicts are a natural part of human interactions, but as responsible citizens, we should seek peaceful resolutions. By promoting open communication, active listening, and respectful dialogue, we can find common ground and work towards solutions that benefit everyone. Peaceful conflict resolution strengthens relationships and fosters a harmonious community.

Voting and Civic Engagement:

Voting and civic engagement are essential responsibilities of a good citizen. By exercising our right to vote, we have a say in choosing our leaders and shaping the policies that impact our lives. Actively participating in civic activities, such as attending community meetings or voicing our opinions, helps shape a democratic and inclusive society.

Teaching and Inspiring Others:

Sharing knowledge and inspiring others is a meaningful way to contribute to our community. By mentoring and educating others, we empower them to become responsible citizens. By being positive role models, we inspire responsible behaviour and help create a brighter future for our society.

In conclusion, being a responsible member of society requires effort from each of us. By consistently following these steps, we can create communities where people feel safe, respected, and empowered.

Long Essay on Responsibilities of Good Citizen in English for Senior Students- 400 + Words

Introduction.

In a democratic society, citizens play an essential role in shaping the future of their country. As a citizen, it is our responsibility to ensure that we contribute positively towards creating a better tomorrow for ourselves and the coming generations. Good citizens must be aware of their rights and duties towards the nation and always strive to fulfil them. Let’s explore what it means to be a responsible citizen and discuss the various responsibilities that come with being one.

The Role of Citizens in a Democracy

Citizens play a crucial role in a democracy. They are the backbone of any democratic society and have great power to influence the government’s decisions. In a democracy, citizens have the right to vote for their representatives, who will work towards fulfilling their needs and demands. Moreover, it is also important for citizens to stay informed about political issues that affect them and their community. By being aware of these issues, they can make informed decisions during elections and hold their elected officials accountable. In addition to voting and staying informed, citizens can also participate in various forms of civic engagement such as attending public meetings or rallies. These actions help ensure that voices from all parts of society are heard by those in positions of power. Furthermore, citizens can support initiatives that promote equality, justice, and human rights by participating in peaceful protests or advocating for policies that benefit marginalized communities. Citizens’ active participation is essential for maintaining a healthy democracy where everyone’s voice is heard. It is vital never to underestimate the importance of each citizen’s contribution towards constructing an equalitarian society based on shared values like freedom and justice under the rule of law.

Who is a Responsible Citizen?

A responsible citizen is someone who takes an active role in their community and strives to make a positive impact. They are individuals who understand that being part of a larger society comes with responsibilities, and they work towards fulfilling those duties. One important aspect of being a responsible citizen is having a strong sense of civic duty. This means understanding the laws and regulations that govern your community, as well as actively participating in local government through activities such as voting or attending town hall meetings. Another key characteristic of responsible citizens is compassion for others. They take time to volunteer their skills, resources, or time to assist others in need within their communities. Such acts can range from donating blood at the hospital to organizing food drives for the homeless. Responsible citizens also demonstrate respect for diversity by valuing different cultures, races, ethnicities or religions within their communities. They acknowledge that everyone has unique experiences and perspectives which must be respected regardless of beliefs or lifestyle choices. It’s vital for responsible citizens to be environmentally aware – working towards minimizing pollution while promoting sustainability practices locally. By taking small steps like reducing waste production at home or using public transportation instead of driving alone; we contribute positively to our planet’s health. Ultimately a Responsible Citizen entails someone who recognizes their obligations & willingly participates in making contributions towards societal development without any personal objective but pure intentions only!

The responsibilities of good citizens

As members of a society, it is our responsibility to contribute towards the betterment of the community we live in. Good citizenship involves fulfilling certain duties and responsibilities every day. These include being law-abiding citizens, respecting others, participating in civic activities, and advocating for positive change. One of the primary responsibilities of a good citizen is to respect and abide by the laws that govern our society. This involves following traffic rules, paying taxes on time, and avoiding any activity that could harm others or violate their rights. Another important aspect of being a responsible citizen is showing respect towards fellow human beings regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity. We should treat everyone with kindness and empathy while avoiding discrimination against individuals with different beliefs than ours. Participation in civic activities such as voting in elections also demonstrates an individual’s commitment towards contributing positively to society. Citizens can attend public meetings or take part in awareness campaigns that promote sustainable living practices or other societal causes they are passionate about. Citizens must also advocate for changes they wish to see within their communities through peaceful means like petitions addressed to government authorities or engaging with lawmakers during town hall meetings. Being a responsible citizen requires effort from all members of society. Fulfilling these duties listed above and working together towards common goals for societal improvement ensures progress not only at national levels but globally too!

How to be a good citizen

Being a good citizen is not only about obeying the law and paying taxes. It’s also about being an active member of your community and contributing to society in meaningful ways. One way to be a good citizen is to volunteer your time and resources to causes that you care about. Whether it’s helping out at a local soup kitchen, donating money to charity, or organizing a neighbourhood clean-up day, there are countless ways that you can give back. Another important aspect of being a good citizen is staying informed about current events and issues affecting your community. This means reading the news regularly, attending town hall meetings, and engaging in discussions with your neighbours. It’s also essential to treat others with respect and kindness. This includes being tolerant of different viewpoints and lifestyles, as well as recognizing the value of diversity. Being a good citizen means taking responsibility for your own actions. This includes owning up to mistakes when they happen and making efforts to correct them. By following these guidelines, anyone can become a responsible and engaged member of their community – one who contributes positively towards creating a better world for all.

The benefits of being a responsible citizen

Being a responsible citizen comes with its fair share of benefits. For starters, responsible citizens build stronger communities and societies where everyone is treated fairly and equally. When people take on the responsibilities of good citizenship, they become more aware of their surroundings and work towards making positive changes in their local community. Responsible citizens are also more likely to be respected by others around them. They lead by example, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps and make a difference in the world. Moreover, being a responsible citizen can provide a sense of personal fulfilment and purpose. Contributing positively to society through volunteer work or civic engagement can boost one’s self-esteem while providing valuable experiences that shape character.

Furthermore, responsible citizens often have better opportunities for employment as they possess skills such as teamwork, leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that are highly valued by employers. These qualities help create well-rounded individuals who can effectively navigate both personal and professional challenges.

Lastly but not least importantly being an active member of society helps foster greater empathy towards other individuals from different backgrounds thus promoting social cohesion which ultimately leads to peace within the nation.

To sum up, being a responsible citizen is not just a duty but also an essential part of building a sustainable and thriving society. A good citizen must be aware of their responsibilities towards their country, fellow citizens, environment, and themselves. It’s crucial to uphold moral values such as honesty, integrity, respect for diversity, and equality.

By practicing these values in our daily lives and taking active participation in community affairs or volunteering for social causes can make us better citizens. We need to work together to ensure that we leave behind a better world for future generations.

Remember “We are the change we want to see” – Mahatma Gandhi

Being a responsible citizen isn’t just fulfilling our basic duties; it’s about going beyond them because only then can we truly contribute towards creating positive changes in society. So let’s all take responsibility today by becoming good citizens who show compassion towards others while contributing positively towards societal development!

1.How can I contribute towards society? Answer- Being a good citizen involves more than voting in elections and following the laws. It means actively looking for ways to contribute to your community and society as a whole. This could mean volunteering at your local homeless shelter or food bank, donating money to health-related charities, or even just taking the time to pick up litter in your neighborhood. The most important thing is that you find ways to help those who are less fortunate and make the world around you a better place

2.How can I be a good global citizen? Answer- Being a good global citizen means being aware of the world around us and understanding our role in making it a better place. It starts with respecting the people and environment in your own community, but also extends to having an informed global perspective. You can do this by researching issues that impact everyone, such as climate change or economic inequality. You can also get involved in global initiatives that promote sustainability and social justice.

3.What does it mean to be a good citizen? Answer- Being a good citizen means a lot more than just obeying the laws. It also means actively participating in society by showing respect for others and making positive contributions that benefit the community. This could include volunteering, taking part in community activities, and speaking up against injustice.

4.How do you raise a dog to be a good citizen? Answer- Training a dog to be a good citizen is an important part of responsible pet ownership. A few key steps are needed to ensure that any dog grows up to be a respectful companion. Start by teaching basic obedience commands like sit, stay, and come. You can also work on activities such as greeting people politely and walking without pulling on the leash.

5.How can being a good citizen contribute to nation building? Answer – Being a good citizen is not just about following the law, it is also about taking part in nation-building activities and contributing to the collective goals of society. This can include volunteering, participating in community projects, voting, engaging in public discourse, and practicing responsible consumerism. All of these activities contribute to building strong and vibrant communities which are essential to a prosperous nation.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay

India is a democratic country where its citizens live freely however they have lots of rights and responsibilities towards their country. Rights and responsibilities are two sides of a coin and both go side to side. If we have rights we must have their corresponding responsibilities too. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand with us where we live in whatever home, society, village, state, or country. Now-a-days, students gets assigned by their teachers to write some paragraphs or complete essay on any topic to enhance their English writing skill and knowledge as well as spread awareness. Following are some paragraphs, short essays and long essays on Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens to help students in completing their related task. All the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens essay are written very simply. So, you can select any essay according to your need and requirement:

Long and Short Essay on Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens in English

Rights and responsibilities of citizens essay 1 (100 words).

Citizen is the person who lives as an inhabitant in any village or city of the state and country. We all are citizen of our country and have various rights and responsibilities towards our village, city, society, state and country. Rights and duties of each citizen are very valuable and inter-related. Every state or country provides its citizens some fundamental civil rights such as personal rights, religious rights, social rights, moral rights, economic rights and political rights. As a citizen of the country we are morally and legally required to complete our duties always together. We should love and respect each other and live together without any difference. We are expected to sacrifice time to time in order to protect our country.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 2 (150 words)

Citizens living in the country must know their rights and responsibilities. Understanding all the rules and regulation presented by the government may help every citizen in completing their responsibilities towards country. We must understand our rights for our own well being and freedom in the country as well as serve for the communities and country. The constitution of India (called as supreme law of India) came into force in 1950 on 26 January which has given democratic rights to the Indian citizen. According to the Indian constitution, people of India have various rights and responsibilities.

There are around six fundamental rights of the Indian citizens without which no one can live in the democratic manner. Means, democracy in the country can work only if its citizens have rights. Such rights prevent the government from being dictatorial and cruel. Fundamental rights help people in their moral, material and personality development. In case of rights violations of someone, courts can protect and safeguard them. There are some fundamental responsibilities too for the peace and prosperity of the country.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 3 (200 words)

Fundamental rights of the Indian citizens are given to them for the basic and essential conditions of good life for their progress. Without such rights no Indian citizen can develop his/her personality and confidence. These fundamental rights are preserved in the Indian Constitution. Fundamental rights are protected and guaranteed to the citizens by supreme law while ordinary rights by the ordinary law. Fundamental rights of the citizens are not violable in ordinary situation however in some reasonable circumstances they can be suspended but temporarily.

Six fundamental rights according to the Indian constitution are Right to Equality (Article 14 – Article 18), Right to Religion (Articles 25 – Article 28), Right against Exploitation (Articles 23 – Article 24), Right to Culture and Education (Articles 29 – Article 30), Right to Freedom (Articles 19 – Article 22), and Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32). Citizens enjoy their fundamental rights living anywhere in the country. He/she can go to the court for legal assistance in case his/her rights are violated by force. There are various responsibilities too of the good citizens which everyone must follow in order to improve surroundings and get inner peace. Fulfilling responsibilities towards country gives sense of ownership for the country. Being a good citizen of the country, we should not waste electricity, water, natural resources, public property, etc. We should follow all the rules and laws as well as pay tax timely.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 4 (250 words)

Fundamental rights given to the Indian citizens are essential part of the Constitution. Such fundamental rights can be altered by the Parliament using special procedure. No person other than Indian citizen is allowed to enjoy such rights except right to liberty, life, and personal property. Other fundamental rights except right to life and personal liberty can be suspended during time of emergency. If any citizen found his/her rights violated can go to the court (Supreme Court and High Court) for enforcement. Some fundamental rights are positive or negative in nature and always become superior to the ordinary laws. Some fundamental rights like freedom of speech, assembly, cultural right and educational rights are limited to citizens only.

There were no fundamental duties preserved in the Constitution of India when it came into force in 1950. However, ten fundamental duties (covered by Article 51 A) were added in the 42 nd Amendment of the Constitution of India in 1976. Following are the fundamental responsibilities of the Indian citizens:

Indian citizen must respect their National Flag and the National Anthem.
They must respect, value and follow all the noble ideals used in the national struggle for freedom.
They must to protect the power, unity and integrity of the country.
They guard the country and maintain the spirit of common brotherhood.
They must protect and preserve the cultural heritage sites.
They must protect, preserve and improve the natural environment.
They must safeguard the public property.
They should develop scientific temper and spirit of inquiry.
They must work hard to get excellence in every area of individual and collective activity.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 5 (300 words)

Fundamental duties of the Indian citizens are mentioned in the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India in 1976. All the responsibilities are very important and necessary for the vital interest of country. They can be civic duties or moral duties which cannot be enforced legally upon the citizens even by the courts. One cannot be punished if he/she is not performing his/her duties as there is no legal force governing these duties. Fundamental duties (right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights and right to constitutional remedies) are the integral part of Constitution of India having moral impact and educative value upon the Indian citizens. Inclusion of such responsibilities to the Constitution is important for the progress, peace and prosperity of the country.

Some of the fundamental responsibilities mentioned in the Constitution of India are like respect to the National Flag, the National Anthem, citizens must defend their country, commit to provide National service whenever required, safeguard the public property, etc. Such rights and responsibilities are very important for National interest of the country however not forcefully enforced to the people. In order to completely enjoy the rights, people must perform their responsibilities towards country in a well manner as rights and responsibilities are related to each other. As we get rights our responsibilities increases too towards individual and social welfare. Both are not separable and vital regarding prosperity of country.

As a good citizen of the country, we need to know and learn our all the rights and duties for the welfare of our society and country. We need to understand that all of us are responsible for good or bad condition of the society. We need to change our thinking into action to bring some positive effect in our society and country. If the individual action performed by a person can change the life; why not, our collaborative actions have positive effects over the society and country. So, the duties of citizens matters a lot for the prosperity and peace of society and entire country.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 6 (400 words)

As we are a social animal, we have lots of responsibilities for the development as well as bring prosperity and peace in the society and country. In order to fulfill our responsibilities we have given some rights by the Constitution of India. Rights are very necessary given to the citizens for their individual development and improve the social life. Democratic system of the country is completely based on the freedom of its citizens to enjoy their rights. Rights given by our Constitution are called as Fundamental Rights which cannot be taken back from us in normal times. Our Constitution gives us six rights such as:

Right to Freedom: It is very important fundamental right which makes people able to express their thoughts and ideas through speech, writing or other means. According to this right, a person is free to cherish, criticize or speak against the governmental policies. He/she is free to carry on any business in any corner of the country.
Right to Freedom of Religion: There are many states in the country where people of various religions live together. Each one of us is free to practice, propagate and follow any religion we like. No one has right to interfere with the faith of anybody.
Right to Equality: Citizens living in India are equal and have no any difference and discrimination between rich and poor or high and low. A person of any religion, caste, creed, sex or place can get the highest position in office for which he/she has ability and required qualifications
Right to Education and Culture: Every child has right to education and he/she can get education in any institution up to any level.
Right against Exploitation: No one has right to force anybody to work without wages or against his/her wish or children below 14 years of age.
Right to Constitutional Remedies: It is the most important one which protects all the fundamental rights. If someone feels that his/her rights are being harmed in any condition he/she can approach to the court seeking justice.

As we know that both, duties and rights go side by side. Our rights are meaningless without duties thus both are inseparable. We do not have right to get benefited with rights if we do not follow our duties properly for the smooth running of country. As being the citizen of the country, our responsibilities and duties are:

We must respect the National Flag and National Anthem.
We should respect and obey the laws of our country.
We should enjoy rights and freedom under the limit without interfering with freedom and rights of others.
We should be ready to protect our country whenever required.
We should respect and protect national property and public property (such as railways, post-offices, bridges, roadways, schools, colleges, historical buildings, places, forests, etc).
We should pay our taxes with honesty in timely manner.

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Long and Short Essay on Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens in English

Rights and responsibilities of citizens essay 1 (100 words).

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 2 (150 words)

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 3 (200 words)

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 4 (250 words)

Indian citizen must respect their National Flag and the National Anthem.
They must respect, value and follow all the noble ideals used in the national struggle for freedom.
They must to protect the power, unity and integrity of the country.
They guard the country and maintain the spirit of common brotherhood.
They must protect and preserve the cultural heritage sites.
They must protect, preserve and improve the natural environment.
They must safeguard the public property.
They should develop scientific temper and spirit of inquiry.
They must work hard to get excellence in every area of individual and collective activity.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 5 (300 words)

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay 6 (400 words)

Right to Freedom: It is very important fundamental right which makes people able to express their thoughts and ideas through speech, writing or other means. According to this right, a person is free to cherish, criticize or speak against the governmental policies. He/she is free to carry on any business in any corner of the country.
Right to Freedom of Religion: There are many states in the country where people of various religions live together. Each one of us is free to practice, propagate and follow any religion we like. No one has right to interfere with the faith of anybody.
Right to Equality: Citizens living in India are equal and have no any difference and discrimination between rich and poor or high and low. A person of any religion, caste, creed, sex or place can get the highest position in office for which he/she has ability and required qualifications
Right to Education and Culture: Every child has right to education and he/she can get education in any institution up to any level.
Right against Exploitation: No one has right to force anybody to work without wages or against his/her wish or children below 14 years of age.
Right to Constitutional Remedies: It is the most important one which protects all the fundamental rights. If someone feels that his/her rights are being harmed in any condition he/she can approach to the court seeking justice.

We must respect the National Flag and National Anthem.
We should respect and obey the laws of our country.
We should enjoy rights and freedom under the limit without interfering with freedom and rights of others.
We should be ready to protect our country whenever required.
We should respect and protect national property and public property (such as railways, post-offices, bridges, roadways, schools, colleges, historical buildings, places, forests, etc).
We should pay our taxes with honesty in timely manner.

Values, Rights, Duties And Responsibilities Of Indian Citizens

Author(s): Journal of Legal Studies and Research
Publication Date: September 16, 2020

Contents of this Post

Written by Neetu Jain

Advocate, Supreme Court of India

INTRODUCTION

The Preamble of our Constitution says, WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a [SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC] and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the [unity and integrity of the Nation].

The preamble can be referred to as the preface which highlights the entire Constitution , makes it very clear that the ideals of the Constitution have to percolate to every citizen of India.

India has a glorious history of democracy since ancient times. Eminent historian, Shri K P Jayaswal stated that the concept of the republic system in ancient India is older than the Roman or Greek republican system. The ancient republics or Janpadas such as Vaishali, Kapilavastu and Mithila etc. and their constitutions are older than 600 BC, and are the foundation of constitutional democracy of India.

Since ancient times, people in India have followed the tradition of performing their duties without questioning about their rights and privileges. Since time immemorial, an individual’s “kartavya” — the performance of one’s duties towards society, his/her country and his/her parents was emphasized. Describing the role of a king, at one place the greatest King Chandra Gupta Maurya’s Guru Chanakya, had stated that “It is a king’s utmost duty to look after the progress and welfare of the people of his country”.

Since time immemorial people in India has believed in the concept that Work is worship, thus emphasizing on one’s duty which means that if every individual performs their duties with sincerity, then it amounts to a worship mechanism. Here it is important to mention that Rig Veda talks about fundamental values which include harmony, tolerance, righteousness, respect for nature, and respect for the (unseen) supreme.

Bhagwad Gita and Ramayana also speak that an individual should perform their duties. In the Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna said that everyone should do their duties without expecting anything. Mahatma Gandhi once said that “I have learnt my duties in my mother’s lap, she was an illiterate woman but knew what was my dharma”. The beauty of this ancient thought is that the performance of duty protects our right and rights cannot be divorced from duties. Swami Vivekananda once rightly said, “it is the duty of every citizen to contribute and participate in the development and progress of India”.

RIGHTS OF PERSONS

In accordance with the ideals of the Preamble, the Fundamental Rights of Person have been ensured in Part III (Article 14- 32) of the constitution. These rights are applied irrespective of race, place of birth, religion, caste, creed, or gender. They are enforceable by the courts, subject to specific restrictions. They can broadly be classified as:

-Right to Equality (Article 14 – Article 18)

-Right to Freedom (Articles 19 – Article 22)

-Right to Education (Article 21A).

-Right against Exploitation (Articles 23 – Article 24)

-Right to Religion (Articles 25 – Article 28)

-Right to Culture and Education (Articles 29 – Article 30)

-Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32): In order to ensure that the Rights of Persons are protected, any person who believes that his rights have been affected by the actions of State has the right to move to the Supreme Court or High Court for enforcement of his rights and the Supreme Court and High Courts have the power to issue directions or orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, whichever may be appropriate, for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by this Part.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIAN CITIZEN

PART IVA FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES 51A. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India— (a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; (b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; (c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; (d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so; (e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women; (f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture; (g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures; (h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform; (i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence; (j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement; (k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

If we minutely study all the provisions of our Constitution, we find that very significant feature of our Constitution is that it balances citizens’ rights and duties. These are some social factors which have been grown with time, tradition and usage. The citizen’s duties as are enshrined with Constitution are important as a codification of such duties are an integral part of every citizen of India, which focus on tolerance, peace and communal harmony. A close look of the provision of Article 51A of the Constitution, indicate that a number of provisions refer to human values, which have been part of Indian tradition, mythology, religion and practices.

The chapter on Fundamental Rights in the Constitution itself recognizes the essence of duties. If we look at Article 19 which pertains to freedom of speech, we find that Clause 2 to 6 of the same article put some reasonable restrictions on the exercise of such rights in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, and the security of the state, public order, decency and morality. Similarly, w.r.t other articles of part III of our Constitution. This implies that while exercising rights one must remember one’s duties towards these constitutional Rights.

No democratic polity can ever succeed where the citizens are concerned only about their rights and are not willing to actively participate in the process of assuming responsibilities, discharging their duties and strive to give their best in the interest of their nation. There are three things which build a nation. The first is noble ideals. The second is the capability of the citizens for achieving these ideals. The third and very important is that the constant and intense effort made by each and every Indian citizen to strive for excellence and take his country forward and foremost and make proud in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi, while commenting on the performance of duties had once said that the true source of right is a duty. While emphasizing on duties he meant that if we perform our duties than rights will not be far, however, If we leave the duty unperformed, and run after rights, we will not be able to get the rights.

It can be undoubtedly stated that the rights flow from duties when well performed. Harold Laski, the great political philosopher once said that the rights are related to functions and are given only in return for some duties to be performed. Rights are conferred on the individuals not for their individual up-liftmen but also for social and collective good.

Citizen is one of the foundations of the country. They are entitled to enjoy all the legal rights and privileges granted by a state to the people encompassing its constituency and are obligated to obey its laws and to attain his or her duties as called upon.

A responsible citizen abides by all the laws of the country, in return they get rights. However, rights come with duties such as casting a vote, paying government taxes and protecting the country from any foreign invasion. Being a good and responsible citizen of the country, one must engage in activities or assist in tackling issues such as keeping the environment clean, raising money for charities, conserving electricity, water, and natural resources, or protecting public properties, etc.

CAN THE LEGISLATION AMEND/ ALTER THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL PROVIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.?

Here it is important to sum-up by mentioning three important Judgments of the Supreme Court on the issue of Fundamental Rights and power of Parliament to amend the Constitution. They are Golaknath Vs State of Punjab (1967AIR 1643) , Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Jabalpur vs Shivakant Shukla (1976 2 SCC 521 , and Kesavananda Bharati State of Kerala (1973 4 SCC 225).

The Golaknath Case (1967AIR 1643) pertained to challenging acquisition of farmlands in Punjab under land ceiling laws and the petitioner therein contended attachment of lands denied them equality and equal protection as constitutionally guaranteed. In this matter, the 11-judge bench examined its own five-judge verdict in a previous case ( Sankari Prasad vs Union of India ) when the court ruled that parliament has the right to amend any part of the constitution.

The Hon’ble Apex court in Golaknath Case reversed its previous verdict of Sankari Prasad vs Union of India, however with the rider of the doctrine of “prospective overruling”, and declared that parliament did not have the power to amend fundamental rights, in part or in whole. The court also ruled that despite it being the parliament’s duty to enforce the directive principles of state policy, this could not be done by altering fundamental rights.

In Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Jabalpur vs Shivakant Shukla(1976 2 SCC 521) , popularly known as the Habeas Corpus case, which was decided by the Supreme Court on April 28, 1976, by a bench of five judges, wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court by majority held that “In view of the Presidential Order dated 27 th June 1975 no person has any locus to move any writ petition under Article 226 before a High Court for habeas corpus or any other writ or order or direction to challenge the legality of an order of detention on the ground that the order is not under or in compliance with the Act or is illegal or is vitiated by mala fides factual or legal or is based on extraneous considerations.” The presidential order referred to in the conclusion of the judgment had declared that any right under Article 14,21, & 22 of the constitution of any person and all proceedings pending in any court for the enforcement of those rights would remain suspended during the Emergency was in force.

However, Justice Khanna, (one of the Judges of the Bench) in his dissent, held that “ Article 21 cannot be considered to be the sole repository of the right to life and personal liberty. Sanctity of life and liberty was not something new when the constitution was drafted, and the principle that no one shall be deprived of his life and liberty without the authority of law was not the gift of the constitution, Justice Khanna declared.” Therefore, he reasoned that even in the absence of Article 21 in the constitution, the state has got no power to deprive a person of his life or liberty without the authority of law. It is important to note here that the later pronouncements of Supreme Court, on Article 21, of makes it clear that the dissenting opinion of the minority Judge, Justice Khanna is the way forward.

Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala ( 1973 4 SCC 225 ) , Judgment wherein one main question: was the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution unlimited? In other words, could Parliament alter, amend, abrogate any part of the Constitution even to the extent of taking away all fundamental rights?

On April 24, 1973, Chief Justice Sikri and 12 judges of the Supreme Court assembled to deliver the most important judgment in its history. Article 368(pertaining to the power of the Parliament to amend provisions of Constitution), on a plain reading, did not contain any limitation on the power of Parliament to amend any part of the Constitution. There was nothing that prevented the Parliament from taking away a citizen’s right to freedom of speech or his religious freedom. However, on account of Article 32, Supreme Court of India rose to the occasion and though 703-page judgment revealed a sharply divided court and, by a wafer-thin majority of 7:6, overruled the Golaknath verdict and gave back to the parliament the right to amend the Constitution. It was held that Parliament could amend any part of the Constitution so long as it did not alter or amend “the basic structure or essential features of the Constitution.” This was the inherent and implied limitation on the amending power of Parliament. Thus, the Judgment ensured that the Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution or impose any reasonable restriction on the rights of the people so long as it does not alter or amend the basic structure or essential feature of the Construction.

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Germany set to add citizenship test questions about Jews and Israel

BERLIN — Those seeking German citizenship could soon have to answer test questions about antisemitism, Germany’s commitment to Israel and Jewish life in Germany.

The catalogue of more than 300 questions from which citizenship test questions can be selected is to be amended shortly, the interior ministry said in a statement, pending final approval. New questions, German magazine Der Spiegel reported , are to include: What is a Jewish house of prayer called? When was the State of Israel founded? What is the reason for Germany’s special responsibility for Israel? How is Holocaust denial punished in Germany? And, somewhat mysteriously: Who can become a member of the approximately 40 Jewish Maccabi sports clubs in Germany? (Anyone, according to the organization’s FAQ.)

The move comes months after the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt made a written commitment for the “right of the State of Israel to exist” a requirement for naturalization.

Germany has cracked down on pro-Palestinian voices and on antisemitism amid Israel’s war in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Germany and German institutions have come under criticism in recent months for enforcing strict speech policies affecting pro-Palestinian protests. Museum shows, book talks and other art events have been canceled .

“One thing is particularly important to me,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Der Spiegel. “As a result of the German crime against humanity of the Holocaust comes our special responsibility for the protection of Jews and for the protection of the State of Israel. This responsibility is part of our identity today.”

“Anyone who doesn’t share our values can’t get a German passport. We have drawn a crystal clear red line here,” Faeser said. “Antisemitism, racism and other forms of contempt for humanity rule out naturalization.”

The 33-question citizenship test is one of several prerequisites to becoming a German citizen. To pass, applicants must correctly answer at least 17 multiple-choice questions within an hour.

A wave of more than 2,000 antisemitic incidents logged by authorities since Oct. 7 has prompted German leaders to call for better enforcement of the country’s antisemitism laws in recent months.

“Antisemitism has no place in Germany,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an address to German parliament in late October. “We will do everything to oppose it. We will do this as citizens, and as bearers of political responsibility.”

This includes enforcing existing laws, Scholz said.

While antisemitism itself is not a crime in Germany, antisemitic motivation for a crime can be considered in sentencing. In April 2023, the government announced that it would increase annual payments to the Central Council of Jews in Germany to almost $24 million, in part “to further strengthen the safety and security of Jewish communities.”

Holocaust denial is illegal in Germany, and punishable by prison time.

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Suicide Bomber Kills 5 Chinese Workers in Pakistan

The assault comes amid a spate of terror attacks in Pakistan, as the country’s faltering ties to the Taliban affect regional security.

By Salman Masood and Christina Goldbaum

Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan, and London.

Five Chinese workers were killed on Tuesday when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into their convoy in northern Pakistan, the latest in a string of terrorist attacks highlighting the security challenges Pakistan faces in protecting Chinese personnel.

The Chinese laborers were working on the Dasu dam, a hydropower project on the Indus River in the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The convoy was moving to Dasu from Islamabad and came under attack around 1 p.m., officials said.

Over the past week, terrorist attacks also struck a Pakistani military air base and a strategic port in the southwest of the country, where China has invested billions in infrastructure projects. The string of attacks has challenged the close economic and strategic ties between the two countries.

China is estimated to have spent some $62 billion on projects in Pakistan, mostly to build a transportation corridor through Baluchistan to a new Chinese-operated deepwater port in the Pakistani town of Gwadar.

It was the second-deadliest attack on Chinese laborers working on the dam project, after a previous suicide attack on a convoy in 2021 killed nine Chinese workers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on Tuesday. The driver of the vehicle was also killed.

“This latest attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan heightens growing fears in Beijing about the bleak future of its tens of billions in investments in the country,” said Kamran Bokhari, a senior director of Eurasian security and prosperity at the New Lines Institute in Washington.

“China has had a front-row seat in witnessing Pakistan’s social, political, economic and security meltdown,” he said. “What is happening in Pakistan, along with the situation in post-U.S. Afghanistan, represents a serious threat to Chinese interests in the broader South and Central Asian regions.”

The attacks over the past week were part of the surging violence from militant and terrorist groups in Pakistan, which have grown more active and violent since U.S. troops withdrew from neighboring Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban seized power.

Much of the violence has been carried out by the Pakistani Taliban, an ideological ally and twin of the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as the Baluchistan Liberation Army, a militant separatist organization that operates primarily in Baluchistan Province.

Baluch separatists have targeted Chinese workers in recent years, claiming that they are pillaging natural resources like gold and access to the sea that should exclusively belong to the people of Baluchistan.

The Pakistani Taliban has close ties to a militant group known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which seeks independence for Uyghur Muslims in China . As part of that relationship, the Pakistani Taliban has carried out attacks on Chinese interests in Pakistan in response to Beijing’s treatment of Uyghurs.

A U.N. monitoring report in January noted concerns about the East Turkestan Islamic Movement more closely collaborating with the Pakistani Taliban in recent months “in recruitment, training, planning attacks and posing a regional threat.”

The recent uptick in militant violence in Pakistan has added to the political and economic crises the country has faced over the past two years. It has also spurred growing tension in neighboring Afghanistan with its Taliban leaders, who Pakistani officials have accused of offering safe haven to the militants carrying out the attacks in Pakistan. Taliban officials have denied those claims.

Tensions between the two countries have come to a head in recent months. In September, Pakistani officials announced a new policy aimed at deporting the roughly 1.7 million Afghans living in the country illegally. Earlier this month, Pakistan also bombed Pakistani Taliban targets inside Afghanistan for the first time in nearly two years.

“The surge in violence is linked to Pakistan’s deteriorating ties with the Taliban,” said Abdul Basit, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. “The new wave of violence also points to improving operational capabilities of both jihadists and Baloch separatist groups to hit hard targets in coordinated attacks. Both groups are employing suicide bombers, which underscores steady recruitment into their ranks.”

The attack on Tuesday took place along the Karakoram Highway, which links Islamabad, the capital, with the mountainous northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan and China, following one of the ancient Silk Road’s many routes.

The Chinese nationals were traveling along the highway in a security convoy when a vehicle laden with explosives rammed into it, according to Bilal Faizi, the spokesman for emergency rescue services in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province.

One day earlier, Baluch separatists attacked a Pakistani naval base, P.N.S. Siddique, in the Turbat district of Baluchistan Province. The Pakistan military said that four heavily armed attackers had been unable to breach security and were killed at the outer boundary of the base. Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in the firefight. The Baluchistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

On March 20, two Pakistani soldiers were killed when Baluch separatists attacked Pakistani military intelligence offices in Gwadar, the southwestern city where Pakistan is developing a port with the help of China. Eight heavily armed gunmen tried to enter the Gwadar Port Authority and were killed after a firefight that lasted several hours, officials said.

In response to Tuesday’s attack, Pakistani officials vowed to investigate the incident and bring those behind the attacks to justice.

After visiting the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the minister for interior and narcotic control, said that the government would “deal with the elements involved in the attack with iron hands.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also visited the embassy and expressed condolences, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The ministry condemned the attack and urged Pakistan to “thoroughly investigate the incident as soon as possible, hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

It added: “Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will never succeed.”

Amy Chang Chien , Zia ur-Rehman and Chris Buckley contributed reporting.

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to the project the Chinese laborers were working on when the attack occurred. It was a dam project, not a port project.

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Christina Goldbaum is the Afghanistan and Pakistan bureau chief for The Times. More about Christina Goldbaum

Tugboats left before ship reached Baltimore bridge. They might have saved it.

Three Moran tugboats known for guiding huge ships into port rest at their station wait for the next big job in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

As investigators work to determine what caused the hulking Dali container ship to topple Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge in a matter of seconds on Tuesday, maritime experts around the country are pointing to what could have stopped it.

These small but mighty vessels tow and push ever-larger ships through channels and help them when their propulsion systems – or lack thereof – cannot. They are standard equipment in ports worldwide and are especially useful to help ships with docking and undocking.

On Tuesday, a pair of tugboats operated by McAllister Towing and Transportation did just that, helping the Dali unmoor itself from the main terminal at the Port of Baltimore and orient the ship toward the open waters.

But they broke away before the massive ship navigated under the bridge , as is common practice. Minutes later, the Dali appeared to lose power and propulsion, sending the craft adrift and directly into one of the bridge’s support columns. The steel-truss bridge immediately collapsed into the frigid Patapsco River.

The accident is igniting debate over the proliferation of “megaships” that fuel today’s commercial transportation industry and whether port protocols have ramped up to safely accommodate them. Although the Dali is average-sized compared to many of these behemoths, the devastation it caused in Baltimore was formidable.

Live updates: Two bodies in Baltimore bridge collapse recovered; search for 4 others ends

Had the tugboats accompanied the ship all the way under the bridge, some experts said, they might have been able to stop, slow, or steer it away from danger.

Such a scenario should be standard operating procedure in all ports, said Capt. Ashok Pandey, a master mariner and associate professor of maritime business at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. But he said the industry’s reliance on tugs has waned over the years as technological advancements gave many ships the ability to maneuver through channels independently.

Technology is great, Pandey said, until it fails.

“We went wrong by simply equipping ships with bow and stern thrusters that we use in lieu of tugs to maneuver in and out of the ports,” Pandey said. “When we are getting into ports like Baltimore, within a few miles of the bridge, that's too important an asset that we must think of protecting it by all means possible. And we can do that. We can easily do that.”

It may be rare for a ship to lose power at such a high-stakes moment, but it clearly does happen, and he said tugboats could have averted catastrophe.

Implementing such a practice would require a significant investment for U.S. ports, which either own and operate their own tugboats or contract out for tug services. Those costs are then rolled into the ports’ fees charged to shipping companies who use their facilities.

“There are a finite number of tugs, and 99.9% of the time there are no issues,” said Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner and current maritime historian at Campbell University who also hosts a YouTube show called “What’s Going On With Shipping?”

“If the port required tug escorts in and out, then they would not be able to help other ships dock, and undock,” Mercogliano said. “It would need more tugs, and the question becomes, how much will this cost, and will it be passed on to the consumer?”

Because ports compete with each other for shipping business, he said, it’s unlikely that one port would mandate tug escorts unless all of the ports did it for fear of losing lucrative contracts. Shipping companies want the most efficient and cost-effective deal and will simply move to the next port if confronted with higher costs or longer waits.

Mercogliano said he’s not even sure tugboats would have been able to stop the Dali from hitting the bridge. When its power appeared to fail, the ship was going about 8 knots – roughly 9 mph – with a weight of over 100,000 tons.

“It would be like a Prius trying to move a Mack truck on the highway,” he said.

Realities of the container ship arms race

The Dali isn’t even big compared to other container ships hauling goods from port to port these days.

Over the past several decades, newly constructed ships have ballooned to gigantic proportions with load-carrying capacities that used to require five or six ships. The largest container vessel in the 1980s had a maximum capacity of 4,300 20-foot containers – otherwise referred to as TEUs, or 20-foot equivalent units – the standard unit of measurement for cargo capacity.

Today’s largest ship, the MSC Irina, has a capacity of 24,346 TEUs.

The Dali, by comparison, has a capacity of just under 10,000 TEUs, making it the typical “meat and potatoes of container ships,” said Kevin Calnan, assistant professor of marine transportation at California State University Maritime Academy.

Like most container ships, Calnan said, the Dali has one engine and one propeller. Its emergency diesel generator, standard in all such vessels, has enough power to keep key systems going – but not enough to restart the engine or provide propulsion.

In a video posted to social media, lights on the Dali shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again before the ship struck the bridge. Experts said that was likely the generator as it powered up the lights but not the engine.

It would have taken a second engine on board to fully power the ship and restore propulsion at that point. But Calnan said nobody in the commercial shipping industry is advocating for two engines because of their size and cost.

“Cargo is money, and companies want to maximize the amount of space they want to put cargo in, so to build a ship with a whole other engine would be taking up the space of, like, 150 containers on that ship,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s not too much movement to require these ships to have two engines.”

Calnan, who has worked and sailed on numerous ships during his career, is among the experts who believe tugboats “definitely” could have stopped the Dali from hitting the bridge. He said he has been in similar situations where the power went out and “having tugs there basically saved the day.”

It may take a disaster for industry and ports to change

The bigger the boats and the more sophisticated the technology, the fewer the crew members on board. The Dali's crew is 22-strong.

In his 26 years sailing on commercial ships, Capt. Mike Campbell said he witnessed that shift to smaller crews as automation and electronics made it possible to do more with less when it came to docking, navigating and maintaining the engines.

“I had captains who would turn the radar off in the middle of the day because they didn't want to wear it out, and you'd just go off visual cues, take readings off lighthouses. Now everything is chips and boards,” he said. “And people are more dependent or reliant on it because they are more reliable.”

Campbell, now a professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and master of the training ship Kennedy, said he’s also seen captains push to meet tight schedules, recalling a time when several other chemical carriers owned by competitors sailed out of the Port of Philadelphia into bad weather. His ship stayed put for three days, and arrived in Houston, safely, a day behind schedule. The other ships, he said, all had to sail to shipyards for repairs caused by the storm.

“I was fortunate that the people I sailed under, my mentors, they never worried about the schedule. It was always about the safe operation of the ship,” he said. “You don't want to push things.”

Mariners are always worried about their schedules now, Pandey said.

The shipping industry has become so highly competitive, with companies all vying for a slice of the business, that crews are more likely to leave port without containers than wait on a late shipment and risk falling behind. Ships typically go from port to port, spending anywhere from six to eight hours in each before moving on to the next.

He called it a race to nowhere in which everyone – from the ports to the shipping companies – is playing along.

U.S. ports have spent billions of dollars over the years adapting to the new reality – upgrading their facilities and dredging their channels deep enough to accommodate these massive ships. Some experts warn they could get even bigger in the future, possibly doubling in cargo capacity at some point.

Amid the race to compete for the revenue and jobs brought by these ever-larger ships, port authorities seem to have forgotten about protecting their critical infrastructure, according to Pandley, the former master mariner. He said Tuesday’s accident might be the wake-up call they need to do some real soul-searching.

USA TODAY reached out to the American Association of Port Authorities to ask its thoughts on requiring tug escorts or any other measures to avert the kind of disaster that happened in Baltimore, but a spokesman said nobody was immediately available to take those questions.

Unfortunately, experts said, it often takes a tragedy to improve an industry.

That’s what happened after the 1989 Exxon-Valdez oil spill in Alaska when the U.S. government required double-hull construction for all newly built oil tank ships and all oil tank barges in American waters. California passed a law in the aftermath of that disaster, requiring all oil tankers to have tug escorts in its ports and harbors.

“We have a saying that the laws are written in blood,” said Roland Rexha, international secretary-treasurer of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the oldest maritime union in the United States.

“Knowing what we know now, could we have had tugs accompany the ship to the bridge? Sure. But what were the issues that caused the vessel to lose power in the first place?” he said. “There will be an investigation, and we’re hopeful that the lessons learned will lead to an active change in how things are operated.”

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The Responsibility Of Citizens

- Thomas Jefferson (Letter to Edward Carrington January 16, 1787)

The Premises of Americans' Responsibility Under the Constitution of 1787

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Prospects For The Renewal Of Responsibility

Our Ageless Constitution, W. David Stedman & La Vaughn G. Lewis, Editors (Asheboro, NC, W. David Stedman Associates, 1987) Part VII: ISBN 0-937047-01-5

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Responsibilities of Citizenship

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Handout A: A Good Citizen

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Essay on Responsibilities of Good Citizen | From Voting to Volunteering Exploring Goodness | Short and Long Paragraphs

Responsibilities of Good Citizen 10 lines

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Following Laws and Rules:

Helping Others:

Respecting Differences:

Caring for the Environment:

Participating in the Community:

Being Informed:

Practising Honesty and Integrity:

Resolving Conflicts Peacefully:

Voting and Civic Engagement:

Teaching and Inspiring Others:

Long Essay on Responsibilities of Good Citizen in English for Senior Students- 400 + Words

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Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens Essay

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