How people become citizens, and duties vs responsibilities
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Citizens' rights and responsibilities
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Rights: freedom to express yourself; a prompt, fair trial by jury; voting in elections for public officials; running for elected office. Responsibilities: stay informed; take part in the democratic process; respect and obey federal, state and local laws; respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others; take part in the local community; pay income and other taxes honestly and on time; serve on a jury when called upon. Source card "Jury service". Who made it: the United States Courts. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Jury service is an important civic duty that protects rights and liberties. Citizens who are 18 or older may serve on a federal jury under the Jury Selection and Service Act. Courts randomly select eligible citizens from counties within the district.
Ari reads about a citizen called for jury duty who disagrees with the law in the case. Which response balances rights and responsibilities?
- Serve, and then change the verdict later by voting
- Serve, but stay silent about the law so no one is upset
- Serve fairly under the judge's instructions, and argue publicly for changing the law
- Refuse to serve, since a citizen may ignore laws that seem unjust to that person alone
Citizens' rights and responsibilities
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Rights: freedom to express yourself; a prompt, fair trial by jury; voting in elections for public officials; running for elected office. Responsibilities: stay informed; take part in the democratic process; respect and obey federal, state and local laws; respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others; take part in the local community; pay income and other taxes honestly and on time; serve on a jury when called upon. Source card "Who can vote". Who made it: USAGov, the US government's web portal. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: To vote in federal elections, you must be a US citizen, meet your state's residency requirements, and be 18 on or before Election Day. Source card "Jury service". Who made it: the United States Courts. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Jury service is an important civic duty that protects rights and liberties. Citizens who are 18 or older may serve on a federal jury under the Jury Selection and Service Act. Courts randomly select eligible citizens from counties within the district.
Bo wants evidence for the claim "citizenship carries both rights and responsibilities." Which source supports it best?
- The voting card alone, since voting is a right
- The amendments timeline, since amendments protect both rights and duties of citizens today
- The jury card alone, since service is a duty
- The USCIS list, which names rights like voting and responsibilities like jury service
Fourteenth Amendment, section 1 (first sentence)
Who made it: Congress, which proposed it, and the states, which ratified it. When: Ratified July 9, 1868. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: the nation and its courts. Why: to say who is a citizen. Excerpt (Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment (1868), section 1, first sentence; Exact Text of the Constitution (Lovell, 1895)): "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Source card "Applying after five years as a permanent resident". Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: To apply on Form N-400, a person must be at least 18 and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least five years. The person must have been physically in the United States for at least 30 months of those five years, show good moral character, and pass tests in basic English and civics. An approved applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony, and is not a citizen until taking the Oath.
Esme compares the Fourteenth Amendment and the naturalization card. Which statement do both support?
- Birth requires taking the Oath, and naturalization requires no steps whatsoever
- Both require five years as a permanent resident
- Both require passing an English test
- Both lead to citizenship: birth needs no steps, naturalization does
Applying after five years as a permanent resident
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: To apply on Form N-400, a person must be at least 18 and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least five years. The person must have been physically in the United States for at least 30 months of those five years, show good moral character, and pass tests in basic English and civics. An approved applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony, and is not a citizen until taking the Oath.
Jun imagines a permanent resident of exactly five years who spent 32 months abroad. Does the resident meet the presence rule of 30 months inside?
- No: only 28 months inside is below 30
- Yes: 32 months abroad fits within five years
- No: the rule needs 36 months inside
- Yes: five years have passed, so presence no longer matters
Amendments about citizenship and voting
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the Constitution's amendments. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, and the 14th on July 9, 1868. The 19th Amendment, ratified on August 18, 1920, bars denying the vote on account of sex. The 26th Amendment, ratified on July 1, 1971, bars denying the vote to citizens who are 18 or older on account of age.
Luz counts years on the amendments card. About how many years passed between the 19th Amendment's ratification and the 26th's?
- 103 years
- 46 years
- 51 years
- 61 years
Citizens' rights and responsibilities
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Rights: freedom to express yourself; a prompt, fair trial by jury; voting in elections for public officials; running for elected office. Responsibilities: stay informed; take part in the democratic process; respect and obey federal, state and local laws; respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others; take part in the local community; pay income and other taxes honestly and on time; serve on a jury when called upon.
At a heated town meeting, Noah sees one speaker shout down another. Which action respects both free expression and the rights of others?
- State the disagreement and let others speak and respond
- Shout over others, since speech is a right
- Stay quiet, since disagreeing is rude
- Ask the town to bar the other speaker from future meetings
Citizens' rights and responsibilities
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Rights: freedom to express yourself; a prompt, fair trial by jury; voting in elections for public officials; running for elected office. Responsibilities: stay informed; take part in the democratic process; respect and obey federal, state and local laws; respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others; take part in the local community; pay income and other taxes honestly and on time; serve on a jury when called upon. Source card "Jury service". Who made it: the United States Courts. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Jury service is an important civic duty that protects rights and liberties. Citizens who are 18 or older may serve on a federal jury under the Jury Selection and Service Act. Courts randomly select eligible citizens from counties within the district.
A student says, "Responsibilities are optional, so none are legal duties." Pia checks the cards. What is the best reply?
- Legal duties are on the list, but jury service is chosen
- Some, like paying taxes and jury service when called, are duties the law requires
- The list calls these items responsibilities, so they are equal in force
- The items on the list are legal duties, with no choice involved for any citizen in the nation
Amendments about citizenship and voting
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the Constitution's amendments. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, and the 14th on July 9, 1868. The 19th Amendment, ratified on August 18, 1920, bars denying the vote on account of sex. The 26th Amendment, ratified on July 1, 1971, bars denying the vote to citizens who are 18 or older on account of age.
Ren reads the amendments card. Which statement about the vote is supported?
- The vote was extended in steps: by sex in 1920 and by age 18 in 1971
- The vote was extended by age in 1920 and by sex in 1971, in those two steps
- The vote was extended in one step, in 1868
- The vote was extended by landholding in 1865
Applying after five years as a permanent resident
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: To apply on Form N-400, a person must be at least 18 and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least five years. The person must have been physically in the United States for at least 30 months of those five years, show good moral character, and pass tests in basic English and civics. An approved applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony, and is not a citizen until taking the Oath.
Tala imagines an approved applicant who is ill on ceremony day. Is the applicant a citizen that day?
- No: the applicant must start the application over from the beginning
- Not yet: citizenship begins when the Oath is taken
- Yes: passing the tests is enough
- Yes: approval alone makes a person a citizen
Citizens' rights and responsibilities
Who made it: US Citizenship and Immigration Services. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Rights: freedom to express yourself; a prompt, fair trial by jury; voting in elections for public officials; running for elected office. Responsibilities: stay informed; take part in the democratic process; respect and obey federal, state and local laws; respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others; take part in the local community; pay income and other taxes honestly and on time; serve on a jury when called upon. Source card "Jury service". Who made it: the United States Courts. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Jury service is an important civic duty that protects rights and liberties. Citizens who are 18 or older may serve on a federal jury under the Jury Selection and Service Act. Courts randomly select eligible citizens from counties within the district. Source card "Who can vote". Who made it: USAGov, the US government's web portal. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the rules to the public. Summary in our words, not a quotation: To vote in federal elections, you must be a US citizen, meet your state's residency requirements, and be 18 on or before Election Day.
Zee wants one claim that balances rights and responsibilities. Which claim is best supported?
- Citizens have rights, and responsibilities are just suggestions they may ignore
- A citizen who skips jury duty loses the right to vote
- Citizens enjoy rights like voting and carry responsibilities like obeying laws
- Citizens must give up some rights to gain responsibilities