Civics Standard Three:

Students will understand the responsibilities, rights, and privileges of United States citizens [Citizenship].

The political, religious, and economic freedoms provided to American citizens are accompanied by the responsibility of active civic participation at the individual, community, state, and national levels. Effective citizens need to understand the dedication and commitment necessary to safeguard those rights for themselves and future generations, as well as the potential consequences of inaction. They should also be able to distinguish between the rights and privileges.

The complexity of the standard will increase at each succeeding grade cluster:

• K-3:
  • Students understand that American citizens have distinct responsibilities (such as voting), rights (such as free speech and freedom of religion), and privileges (such as driving).
• 4-5:
  • Students will identify the fundamental rights of all American citizens as enumerated in the Bill of Rights.
  • Students will apply the protections guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to an analysis of everyday situations.
• 6-8:
  • Students will understand that civil rights secure political freedom while property rights secure economic freedom and that both are essential protections for United States citizens.
  • Students will understand that American citizenship includes responsibilities such as voting, jury duty, obeying the law, service in the armed forces when required, and public service.
• 9-12:
  • Students will understand that citizens are individually responsible for keeping themselves informed about public policy issues on the local, state, and federal levels; participating in the civic process; and upholding the laws of the land.