By What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? This is a question that has kept law and citizenship enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. Although the question can be answered in a sentence, there is more to it than what meets the eye.
Therefore, follow along to know the answer to the question, “What is one responsibility that is only for the United States citizens?” Therefore, follow along to learn everything you need to know about the question.
What Is One Responsibility That Is Only For United States Citizens- Overview
The question: What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? Has two sets of answers. The first set is the obvious ones. In other words, the one responsibility that is only for United States citizens is serving on a jury. The jury is an integral part of the criminal justice system and is integral to Articles 3 and many other such articles.
Meanwhile, some people might suggest that voting in a federal election is another responsibility that only citizens of the United States are eligible to participate in. However, the answers are merely superficial, and there is a whole list of rights and duties that a US citizen can partake in.
As a result, let us take a deeper dive to understand the true answer to the question, “What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?” Let’s Go!
Mandatory vs Voluntary Responsibilities
The cornerstone of understanding the responsibilities of US citizens is recognizing the distinction between mandatory and voluntary responsibilities. In other words, the responsibilities of citizens are on a spectrum.
While some are voluntary, others are mandatory. Therefore, in the following sections, we will take a deep dive into understanding these mandatory and voluntary responsibilities. Hence, let us dive right in.
Mandatory Responsibilities
The first form of responsibility that we would like to highlight includes mandatory responsibilities. In short, these responsibilities are shared amongst all US citizens and refugees who are legally or extra-legally staying in the United States of America. Failure to comply with these terms and conditions can result in felony charges or penalties.
#1 Jury Duties
The first mandatory responsibility that can only be observed by a United States Citizen includes Jury Duties. The US Constitution provides the right to a fair trial to all of its citizens. This is a basic right that everyone has.
Similarly, it also makes it a responsibility of citizens to serve on a jury. If a person misses two consecutive jury duties, they can be held in contempt of court.
#2 Obeying The Law
One of the primary responsibilities that citizens are expected to fulfill is obeying the law. Every citizen and legal refugee residing in the United States of America has to follow the rules set forth by the US Constitution.
If a person fails to follow the specified term, they can be tried and tested under various laws. As a result, it falls under the category of a citizen’s mandatory responsibilities to obey the law.
#3 Signing Up For Selective Service
This is an interesting one. If a person becomes a U.S. citizen, they must register with the Selective Service. For example, if you are 19 years of age and want to become a U.S. citizen, then a logical step is to serve in the U.S. military.
Similarly, there are other selective services as well. As a result, a newly naturalized citizen needs to understand the importance of serving their country and not shy away from it. However, at the time of writing, this only applies to men and not women.
#4 Paying Taxes
Last but not least, a naturalized U.S. citizen is required to pay taxes. There is a saying: “You can never avoid death and taxes.” This is probably because you cannot. The US Constitution holds every citizen responsible for paying taxes.
The government collects taxes from citizens in various ways, including income tax and sales tax. All of these taxes are mandatory and must be paid in full. Otherwise, things can become problematic.
Voluntary Responsibilities
The next piece of the “What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?” puzzle is the voluntary responsibilities. The government does not impose these responsibilities on its citizens. However, it does encourage citizens to take them on wholeheartedly. These include:
#1 Voting
Voting is one of the most important voluntary responsibilities that the government wants its citizens to fulfill. Voting is not mandatory under any law. The principal concept behind voting is the essence of choice. A person is allowed to choose whether they want to vote or not.
Some argue that making voting mandatory can lead to better representation. Others claim that it would take away the question of choice from people and their citizens. In this way, it can impact the democratic stability of the state.
#2 Community Work
The government expects its citizens to take time out of their schedules to engage in community work. Volunteering work can be as simple as helping to keep the neighborhood clean.
Community work is the cornerstone of social engagement, helping the community become more conducive to a positive impact. Volunteer work is all about giving something back to society.
#3 Protect Rights Of Others
Lastly, we have the responsibility of protecting people’s rights. This means that it is every citizen’s responsibility to protect the rights of people.
It is the duty of citizens to protect the rights of everyone and ensure that they do not feel like they have been overlooked or sidelined.
Rights vs Responsibilities: Cornerstone of Democracy
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? The answer to this question is definitely a dynamic one. While some can settle for generic answers, as we have stated, those are merely the tip of the iceberg.
The real answer is that the rights and responsibilities are the cornerstone of democracy. Therefore, as democracy evolves, so will these rights and responsibilities.
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