How people become citizens, and duties vs responsibilities
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet
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.
On this sheet, duties are required by law and responsibilities are chosen. Ari sorts two items. Which pairing is right?
- Duty: voting. Responsibility: jury service when called
- Both are duties, because both are on the USCIS list
- Duty: jury service when called. Responsibility: voting
- Both are responsibilities, because citizens may decline either
Bo reads about a citizen who disagrees with a law. Which action uses a right and still respects the responsibility to obey laws?
- Speaking out and voting for change while still obeying the law
- Ignoring the law until it is changed
- Refusing to pay taxes as a protest
- Obeying in silence, since disagreeing with a law is not permitted in a democracy
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.
Esme reads about a citizen who gets a jury summons for a day with a work meeting. Which response best balances the duty?
- Skip it, because jury service is just a chosen responsibility for citizens
- Send a friend to serve instead
- Ignore the summons, since work comes first
- Respond to the summons and ask the court about its scheduling options
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.
Jun reads the card on the 19th and 26th Amendments. Which pair shows who gained the vote, and when?
- People who own land in 1920; people who rent in 1971
- Women in 1971 (19th); citizens aged 18 to 20 in 1920 (26th)
- Women in 1920 (19th); citizens aged 18 to 20 in 1971 (26th)
- Citizens aged 18 to 20 in 1920 (19th); women in 1971 (26th)
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.
Kira checks three made-up applicants. A: 22, permanent resident 6 years, 40 months here. B: 17, 6 years. C: 30, 4 years. Who meets the five-year rules?
- Applicant A meets the age, years and presence rules
- Applicant C meets them, because 30 is an adult age
- Applicants A and C both meet them
- Applicant B meets them, because six years is enough
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.
Luz reads the voting card. Which statement is supported?
- Being born in the United States is a condition for federal voting by citizens
- Citizenship, age and residency are all conditions for federal voting
- Owning property is a condition for federal voting
- Passing a civics test is a condition for federal voting
Applying when married to a citizen
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: A permanent resident who is married to a US citizen may apply after three years instead of five. The applicant must be at least 18 and must have lived in marital union with the citizen spouse during those three years. 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.
Milo compares two made-up permanent residents. P is married to a citizen and has lived with the spouse for three years. Q is unmarried, with three years. Who may apply?
- Q may apply now; P must wait until five years
- Neither may apply until both have five years
- Both may apply now, since both have three years
- P may apply now; Q must wait until five years
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.
Noah needs the legal source for who is a citizen by birth. Which source is best?
- The USCIS card, because it explains the application process in detail
- The Fourteenth Amendment's text, which sets who is a citizen
- The jury card, since juries decide citizenship
- A made-up case about a permanent resident
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."
Tala reads the phrase "born or naturalized." Why does it matter for people who immigrate?
- It lets immigrants vote before becoming citizens
- It makes immigrants citizens as soon as they arrive
- It names naturalization as a path to citizenship equal to birth
- It limits citizenship to those born in the United States, with no other path
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.
Zee is asked which statement goes beyond the USCIS list. Which should Zee pick?
- Citizens may express themselves freely
- Citizens should respect the rights and opinions of others
- Citizens who skip an election lose their citizenship
- Citizens should pay income and other taxes honestly