Becoming a citizen, duties and responsibilities, and ways to take part

Grade 12 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to C on who is a citizen (the excerpts are exact; the summary in card C is in our words). Card A, "The Fourteenth Amendment (1868)". Who made it: Congress proposed it and the states ratified it. When: ratified July 9, 1868. For whom: the people of the United States. Why: to say who is a citizen. Excerpt (Amendment XIV, Section 1, first sentence): "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." Card B, "Congress and naturalization". Who made it: the Constitutional Convention. When: September 17, 1787. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to list the powers of Congress. Adapted in our words from Article I, Section 8, not a quotation: Congress has the power to set a single, uniform rule on naturalization that applies throughout the United States. Card C, "Becoming a citizen by naturalization". Who made it: written for this sheet from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services pages. Summary in our words, not a quotation: An applicant must be at least 18 years old and must have been a permanent resident (green card holder) for 5 years, or for 3 years if married to and living with a citizen. The applicant must have been physically present in the country for at least 30 months of the 5 years, pass tests of English and of U.S. history and government, show good moral character, and take the Oath of Allegiance.

2. 1.

   Ari reads cards A and B together. Which claim do the two cards support?

   • Congress alone decides who is a citizen, because the naturalization power also covers citizenship at birth
   • Naturalized persons are citizens, because card A lists them beside people who were born in the United States
   • A naturalized person is a citizen, and Congress writes the one naturalization rule that every state follows
   • Each state sets its own naturalization rule, because card A makes a naturalized person a citizen of the state of residence
3. 2.

   Mr. Okafor, 40, has held a green card for 4 years and lived with his citizen spouse that whole time. Luz checks card C. What does it show?

   • He meets the residence period, and that is the one requirement on card C that depends on marriage
   • He qualifies now, because 4 years is more than the 3 years card C names and he is over 18
   • He must wait a fifth year, because card C sets 5 years as the period for any applicant
   • He meets the residence period, but card C cannot show whether his other requirements are met
4. 3.

   Tala lists questions about becoming a citizen. Which question can cards A to C not answer?

   • Whether one state may set a naturalization test that differs from another state's test
   • Whether a green card holder who is not married to a citizen may apply after 5 years
   • Whether a person born in the United States must be naturalized to be a citizen
   • What conduct counts as good moral character for an applicant
5. 4.

   Card A ends with "and of the State wherein they reside." Jun asks what that wording shows.

   • A person must live in a state for 5 years to be a citizen of it, as card C requires for the nation as a whole
   • State citizenship follows where a person lives, and a state does not decide who is a United States citizen
   • A state decides who becomes a citizen of the United States and then adds that person to its own list of residents
   • Citizens may choose which state to live in, because the card names the State where they reside, not where they were born

6. the people

   And of "citizens" (the excerpts are exact; card C is made up). Card A, "The First Amendment (1791)". Who made it: Congress proposed it and the states ratified it. When: 1791. For whom: the people of the United States. Why: to limit what Congress may do. Excerpt (Amendment I, in part): "Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Card B, "The Fifteenth Amendment (1870)". Who made it: Congress proposed it and the states ratified it. When: ratified February 3, 1870. For whom: the people of the United States. Why: to protect the vote. Excerpt (Amendment XV, Section 1): "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--" Card C, "A made-up case". Who made it: written for this sheet. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Dara is 30 and has lived in a town for 8 years as a permanent resident from another country. Dara is not a citizen. At a public meeting of the town council about a new road, Dara attends, speaks against the plan and signs a petition. Dara does not try to vote in the town election.

7. 5.

   Pia compares how cards A and B name who is protected. What does the difference in wording show?

   • Card B alone limits the government, because just card B says a right "shall not be denied" or abridged by a State
   • Card B was ratified after card A, so it replaces card A's protection for people who are not citizens
   • Card A protects citizens and card B protects "the people", so the right to petition is the narrower right
   • Card A protects "the people" and card B protects "citizens", so card B is written for a narrower group
8. 6.

   Bo lists what Dara did in card C. Which actions are rights that card A names?

   • The three plus voting, because voting in the town election is how the people petition for a redress of grievances
   • Attending and speaking, but not the petition, because signing a petition is a request and not speech or assembly
   • Not one of them, because card A protects "the people" and Dara is not a citizen of the United States
   • Attending, speaking and signing the petition, but not voting, which card A does not mention
9. 7.

   Milo lists questions about Dara's case. Which question can cards A to C not answer by themselves?

   • Whether card A's wording leaves out people who are not citizens
   • Whether the town may let permanent residents vote in its own election
   • Whether card B's wording protects Dara's right to vote from denial on account of race
   • Whether the Fifteenth Amendment or the First Amendment came into force first
10. 8.

    Someone says: "Dara cannot vote, so Dara has no way to take part." Zee looks for the cards that best answer.

    • Card C alone: Dara signed a petition and spoke, though card C shows no right behind those acts
    • Card A alone: it names speech, assembly and petition, which shows a petition must be granted
    • Cards B and C: voting is the one right that lets people take part in government, so Dara has no way to take part
    • Cards A and C: Dara assembled, spoke and petitioned, which card A names without saying citizens

11. Use this

    Cards A to C on duties and responsibilities (the excerpts are exact; card C is a summary in our words and a made-up law). Card A, "The Sixth Amendment (1791)". Who made it: Congress proposed it and the states ratified it. When: 1791. For whom: the people of the United States. Why: to protect people accused of crimes. Excerpt (Amendment VI, in part): "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed…" Card B, "The Sixteenth Amendment (1913)". Who made it: Congress proposed it and the states ratified it. When: ratified February 3, 1913. For whom: the people of the United States. Why: to let Congress tax incomes. Excerpt (Amendment XVI): "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration." Card C, "Duty and responsibility". Who made it: written for this sheet. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A duty is something the law requires. A responsibility is something expected of a good citizen that the law does not require. A person who is summoned for jury service must report unless excused, and a person who owes income tax must pay it. No law of the United States requires a citizen to vote. In the made-up country of Corvel, a law requires every adult citizen to vote or pay a fine.

12. 9.

    A classmate says: "Card B makes every citizen pay income tax." Ren reads card B and card C. What do they support?

    • Card B gives Congress the power to tax incomes; the duty to pay comes from a law Congress passes under that power
    • Card B makes income tax a responsibility, because it says Congress has power and does not say people must pay
    • Card B gives each State the power to tax incomes, because it says "among the several States"
    • Card B itself requires each citizen to pay income tax, as the classmate says, because it names "taxes on incomes"
13. 10.

    Noah reads about Corvel's law in card C. Is voting there a duty or a responsibility, and does that change the United States?

    • A responsibility in Corvel, because the fine is small, and a duty in the United States instead
    • A responsibility in both countries, because voting is a right and a right cannot be required
    • A duty in both countries, because a free country expects each citizen to vote in each election
    • A duty in Corvel, since the law requires it; in the United States it stays a responsibility