Introduction Essay: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship | Bill of Rights Institute

Good civic habits, also called virtues, facilitate this engagement, which is critical for maintaining a democracy. Civic virtues like integrity, responsibility, courage, and justice bind us together as citizens. They do so by supporting just civic action and promoting a common identity around living freely within our communities. Other virtues like... See more

The legal rights of citizenship include things like voting in elections and due process of law for the accused. Responsibilities include things like paying taxes and serving on juries.

The United States was founded as a self-governing republic. It derives its authority from the consent of the governed. Consent is provided by the people who were citizens of the United States. Over time, the status of citizen has expanded in the United States most explicitly in the Fourteenth Amendment. Citizenship denotes individuals with certain ... See more

“establish justice, secure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.” This requires actions from both the people and the government and sets the stage for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

On paper, these seem simple, but they require much more of us. For example, voting requires us to be informed on the issues facing our communities. The best way to get informed is to be engaged.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution created national citizenship, that everyone born in the United States is a citizen.