Civics Discussion Questions



Civics Discussion Questions

Chapter 1: We the People

Section 1: Civics in Our Lives

Reading Focus Questions

Complete the following questions in your note book by the due date.

1. Why do we study civics?

a) What are some ways Americans participate in society?

b) How are the responsibilities of citizens in different countries different?

c) In what ways might being a member of a family and community help a person learn to be a good citizen?

2. What are the values that form the basis of the US government and the American way of life?

a) What does the ideal of equality mean for Americans today?

b) How do laws and justice help preserve equality?

c) What are some more rights that help preserve Americans’ freedom? How?

3. What are the roles and qualities of a good citizen?

a) Why are many of the most important positions in American government elected ones?

b) Why is it helpful for the men and women who govern to hear about citizens’ needs and concerns?

c) What are some additional characteristics of good citizens?

Section 1 Assessment

Complete the following questions in your notebook by the due date.

1. What are the ways in which American citizens participate in our society?

2. How does the US system of government ensure that officials are responsible to the people?

3. What would happen to an officeholder who never responded to voters in his/her district? Why?

4. What are some similarities among the characteristics of a good citizen? (list at least three)

5. Complete a graphic organizer such as the one below to identify the roles and qualities of a good US citizen.

|US Citizens |

|Roles |Qualities |

| | |

| | |

6. Complete a graphic organizer such as the one below to show how civics affects our lives.

|How Civics Affects Our Lives |

|Studying Civics | |

|American Values | |

|Qualities of a Good Citizen | |

Section 2: Who Are US Citizens?

Reading Focus Questions

Complete the following questions in your notebook by the due date.

1. Who are “Americans” and where do they come from?

a) Who lived in North America before 1492?

b) How were the experiences of Europeans and Africans coming to America different?

c) Do you think a melting pot or a salad bowl is a better metaphor for America? Why?

2. What changes have occurred in US immigration policy since the early 1800s?

a) Why were some people in the 1800s unhappy about increased immigration?

b) How were the immigration laws passed in the 1920s different from the Immigration Act of 1990?

c) Do you think immigration quotas are fair? Why or why not?

3. How does a person become a US citizen? (describe the process)

a) What are the different ways a person can become a US citizen?

b) What might prevent a person from becoming a naturalized American citizen?

Section 2 Assessment

Complete the following questions in your notebook by the due date.

1. Describe European immigration to the US.

2. How and why has US immigration policy changed over time?

3. Why do you think most immigrants were eager to come to the US?

4. Write a metaphor for the US other than melting pot or salad bowl. Explain your choice.

5. What rights do US citizens have that legal aliens do not have? Why do you think this is so?

6. Describe the various types of residents living in the US and explain how their rights and obligations may vary.

7. Complete a Venn diagram to identify the similarities and differences between legal and illegal aliens.

8. Complete a graphic organizer such as the one below to show who Americans are and where they came from, the US immigration policy, and becoming a US citizen. (p. 11)

[pic]

Section 3: The American People Today

Reading Focus Questions

Complete the following questions in your notebook by the due date.

1. Why is the US census important?

a) How often does the US conduct a census?

b) Why do you think US census information is made available to the public?

2. In what ways does a population grow and change?

a) What are the birthrate and death rate? Why are they important?

b) Do you think the American population will continue to grow in the future? Explain.

3. For what reasons have Americans moved and settled in new areas over the course of US history?

a) Where do most Americans live today?

Section 3 Assessment

Complete the following questions in your notebook by the due date.

1. How might businesses, government, and individuals use census information to plan for the future?

2. What are three ways in which a country may grow in population?

3. What are four ways that the American population is changing?

4. How might US society be different if the makeup of its population changes?

5. Describe the effects of climate and technology on American migration patterns.

6. If better jobs and opportunities arose in the Northeast and Midwest, what changes in demographics might occur?

7. What challenges might result from demographic changes occurring in the US today?

8. Complete a graphic organizer such as the one below to explain population changes in the US.

|Population Changes in the US |

|What does the census do? | |

|How has the US population grown? | |

|How has the US population changed? | |

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