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An Effective Citizen

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To maintain a functional democracy the citizens must do their part in that society. I am a 13-year-old citizen of the United States of America. As a member of our society I have freedom and opportunities. Although I am only in 7th grade, I will have more capabilities and more requirements as I grow older. My role as an effective citizen in the American democratic society involves tasks I must, should, and could do. Citizen of the United States of America have certain tasks they are required to do. Each one is Once I turn 18 I can be summoned for jury duty. As Pericles declared in 431 B.C.E., “when it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law.” To insure everyone right a fair trial is maintained, common people …show more content…

One of the many activities I should do in a democracy is exercise my right to vote. Theodore Roosevelt, United States president from 1901 through 1909, warns, “when the sturdy Roman plebian… who directly or indirectly sold their vote to the highest bidder, then the end of the Republic was at hand.” This means without a representative vote a democratic society will cease to exist. In the most recent election, approximately 45% of eligible voters didn’t cast their vote. This prevents nearly half of the populations opinion from being recognized. After I turn 18 I will practice my right to vote and won’t view it as an inconvenience, but as a privilege to be involved in the government. To be an effective citizen in our democratic society having a job also something I should do. In the speech by Theodore Roosevelt he informs the audience, “the Roman Republic fell… when the sturdy Roman plebian, who lived by his own labor… had been changed into an idle creature… who was fed by the state… then the end of the republic was at hand.” In democratic society the state is only able to support the people when the people support the state. When I grow older I should have a job because for our government to properly function it requires payment through taxes. Without money the government can’t complete its tasks to protect me and instead it is burdened by my needs. I will be an effective citizen by voting, having a job, and completing other tasks I should

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