Who are American Citizens?

This article provides a social studies lesson plan on the history of American citizens and the government of the United States. Civics is the study of the rights and duties of a citizen. The idea of civics dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, specifically Athens where democracy was born. However, in Athens, only male property owners were given rights.

The three levels of government are national, state and local. The national government is the highest level and makes laws for the entire country. The state government is responsible for laws regarding the state and the local government makes ordinances that are in line with national laws for the city, town or county. The United States government is based on a concept of popular sovereignty which means that state is created by the will and consent of the governed and that the people are the source of political power.

Citizenship is defined by the fourteenth amendment. A citizen is any person that is born or naturalized in the United States. An alien citizen is a non citizen that must eventually return home. Immigrants are aliens that plan on remaining permanently in the United States. For an alien to become a citizen, they must go through a naturalization process that will award them citizenship for life.

Lesson Focus:

• To introduce students to what it means to be an American Citizen.
• What should people who want to become U.S Citizens know about America?
• To discuss the different branches of government, the three different levels of government, and their duties.

Here are some questions to consider as your teach your lesson. As you define terms, also make sure to briefly explain how they relate to the lives of everyday people.

1. Define: civics.
2. Where does the concept of citizenship come from? Who were initially given the rights of citizenship?
3. What are the characteristics of a citizen?
4. How is the American population changing today?
5. What are three values Americans share because of their common civic and political heritage?
6. Define: popular sovereignty.
7. What are five important institutions in American societies?
8. Define: government.
9. List and give an example of each function of government.
10. Define: public policy.
11. Define: budget.
12. What are the 3 levels of government? Which level of government is closest to the people?
13. Define: direct democracy. Why is direct democracy not practical for most countries today?
14. Define: representative democracy.
15. Define: republic.
16. Define: monarchy.
17. Explain Lincoln’s famous quote: “…of the people, by the people, for the people.”
18. What three criteria must be met in genuine democratic elections?
19. Define: majority rule.
20. Why is it important for citizens to volunteer in their communities?
21. What is bureaucracy? Give an example of one you have dealt with.
22. What are three examples of citizen volunteerism?
23. How might businesses contribute to communities?
24. What are the names of four national service programs?

Civics: the study of the rights and duties of a citizen

Government: Ruling authority for a community or society

Budget: Plan for collecting and spending money

14th amendment: defines the criteria for citizenship

Public Policy: a course of government action to achieve community goals that takes finanical planning

Majority Rule: The process of abiding by what most people want when there is a dispute about an issue