Your Voice Counts: Rights, Responsibilities, and Taking Part

Hi, I'm Atlas. Let's talk about how people and their government work together. A right is something the government protects for you, so others cannot take it away unfairly. Examples include the freedom to speak your ideas, to practice a religion or none, and to be treated equally under the law. Rights belong to people; they are not favors that can be switched off when someone disagrees with you. With rights come responsibilities. A responsibility is a formal duty you are expected to carry out to keep the community fair and functioning. Examples include following the laws of your community, respecting other people's rights, and serving on a jury when called as an adult. Notice that a responsibility is different from simply being kind or polite — informal social habits are good, but they are not civic responsibilities. So how do citizens actually shape the government? Through participation. That means voting in elections, deliberating (talking through problems and weighing different views before deciding), attending meetings, contacting officials, peacefully gathering, and volunteering. Even people too young to vote can participate by deliberating, organizing, and speaking up. Not sure whether something is a right or a responsibility? Ask yourself: does the government protect this FOR me, or does the community expect this FROM me? If the government guards it, it is a right. If the community needs you to act, it is a responsibility.