FRtR > Outlines > The American Government > Fundamentals of American Government > The Responsibilities of Citizenship
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The privileges and freedoms inherent in self-government are balanced by the duties and responsibilities citizenship. Citizens must help finance government according to their ability and must obey the laws and regulations which they, through the exercise of their franchise, have helped frame.
Foremost among the responsibilities of citizenship is the wise
use of the power of the ballot. An informed electorate is the
surest guarantee of the survival of democracy. Whether the issue
is paving a street in the town in which they live or approving a
major change in U.S. foreign policy, American voters have the
duty to cast their votes on the basis of all the information
available.
A second major responsibility is public service. Millions of
American men and women have entered the armed forces to defend
their country in times of national emergency. Millions more have
served in peacetime to maintain the country's military strength.
Americans, young and old alike, have joined the Peace Corps and
other volunteer organizations for social service at home and
abroad. Nor is volunteer service confined to
government-sponsored activities. From parent-teacher
associations and Little League baseball groups at the local
level, to consumer lobbies and foreign
policy associations at the
national and international levels, Americans contribute freely of
their time and talents in support of causes in which they
believe.
A relatively small number of persons choose politics as a
lifetime career. But there are literally millions of citizens
who have entered government service at all levels. Some are
professionals in the field of public administration, with years
of study at the university and post-graduate level behind them.
Others have made their mark first in private enterprise and later
in government service.
The judicial system relies on the service of citizens as members
of juries in federal, state and local courts. Every American of
legal age is subject to jury duty, unless he or she can show that
such service would constitute a revere personal hardship. Grand
juries have enormous powers to investigate wrong-doing by public
officials as well as private citizens. Trial juries sit in
judgment of their fellow citizens charged with violations of the
law.
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