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Name: FORMTEXT ?????Date: FORMTEXT ?????School: FORMTEXT ?????Facilitator: FORMTEXT ?????1.01 Notes Guide “We the People”Answer the 1.01 Notes Guide as you review the lesson. Introduction: What do the words “We the People” mean to you? FORMTEXT ?????Give two reasons why you think these people might be rallying and waving American flags. FORMTEXT ?????“We the People”What does it mean to be an American? What are the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship? What is a democracy? In a FORMTEXT ?????, leaders are selected by FORMTEXT ????? and government is organized in a way in which public policy should reflect the will of the people. In this unit you will learn about some of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in America. As Americans, we enjoy precious freedoms and protection of our liberty that so many people around the world do not possess. The United States Constitution allows “We the People” to have protected rights and liberties through our unique participation in government. Our Republic“ FORMTEXT ????? tell the government what to do, it doesn’t tell us.” – Ronald ReaganIn other words, a democracy is a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. The United States is a FORMTEXT ????? or an indirect democracy that allows the people to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. A republic works successfully only when its citizens participate in the political process. Team WorkCitizens are like members of a team. We may not all look exactly the same or have the same ideas about which plays are the most effective, but we all have the same goal, to win the game. As citizens we must do our part to make our team or nation’s government run successfully. “Although our interests as citizens vary, each one is an artery to the heart that pumps life through the body politic, and each is important to the health of democracy.” - Bill Moyers, The Nation, Jan. 22, 2007Responsibilities of CitizensAs a member of a team, we must first get in the game or actually participate in politics. The most crucial and basic way to participate is by exercising our FORMTEXT ?????. There are other ways to take an active role in your government including: becoming knowledgeable about the issues in order to make informed decisionsvolunteering in campaigns contributing financially to campaigns and causes running for a political officeTypes of DemocracyA democracy is a political system in which the supreme power belongs to the people; however, not all democracies are alike. There are two types of democracies, indirect and direct. In a FORMTEXT ????? there are no elected representatives because government decisions are made directly by the people. The United States has the most common form of democracy, an FORMTEXT ????? or representative democracy. In an indirect democracy the people vote for elected representatives to make decisions on their behalf.Characteristics of DemocracyThere are three basic ideals within democracy in America including, FORMTEXT ?????, FORMTEXT ?????, and FORMTEXT ?????. Democracies have all of the following characteristics:Effective participation by citizensFree and fair electionsMajority rule with minority rightsIndividual rightsProtection of rights and freedomsTolerance, cooperation, and compromiseEffective Participation by CitizensEffective participation means that citizens must not only be able to express their preferences in the political decision-making process, but also actively participate by becoming an FORMTEXT ?????. In addition to voting, citizens should be willing to serve on juries, speak out on public issues, hold their representatives accountable, pay taxes, volunteer within their community and nation, and even run for political office.Free and Fair ElectionsFree and FORMTEXT ????? mean that citizens of voting age in a democracy must be able to express their opinions through the election process. No one’s vote should count more than another. In other words, it should be “one person, FORMTEXT ?????”. These free and fair elections should be held at all levels of government and at regular intervals.Majority Rule with Minority RightsMajority rule with minority rights is an essential standard of democracy. FORMTEXT ????? is used to make public decisions in a democracy. FORMTEXT ????? must be respected and protected in a democracy. No majority has the right to take away or ignore minority rights in a democracy. The guaranteed protection of minority rights allows the minority to fully participate without fear of persecution.Individual Rights FORMTEXT ????? have been highly valued in our nation since its birth as evidenced in the famous words of our founding fathers that we are born with rights to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of FORMTEXT ?????.” Citizens must be able to express their opinions and beliefs in a democracy. Individual Rights ContinuedOur natural rights as United States Citizens are preserved in the FORMTEXT ?????, or the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The first amendment covers several of our natural rights including, freedom of speech (people must be able to express their position regarding a public policy), freedom of the press (citizens must have an enlightened understanding of the issues), freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition the government. These freedoms allow voters to communicate their views and beliefs to government officials.Equal Protection of Rights under the LawEqual protection of rights under the law is essential in a democracy. Democratic societies believe “all men are FORMTEXT ?????” and are entitled to equal opportunity and equal protection under the law without preference. Justice in the courts must be equally administered to all. A citizen’s obligation to serve as a juror or to testify as a witness in a court of law helps protect equal justice under the law. FORMTEXT ????? (laws must be fair and the process of implementing those laws must be fair) must be established. Tolerance, Cooperation and CompromiseTolerance, cooperation, and compromise are necessary to protect individual rights in a thriving democracy. FORMTEXT ????? must be safeguarded and all communities must be accurately represented. In other words, the right to be different must be protected and a climate of FORMTEXT ????? must be valued in democratic societies. Diversity in opinions requires cooperation among differing groups in order to reach FORMTEXT ????? which produces a successful and well-functioning government. ................
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