Citizenship of America

The idea is that the federal government allows for some independence between the states but also satisfies the need for a strong central government. States rights are kind of difficult to determine because the Constitution gives the federal government the right to make laws that are “necessary and proper.” Federal courts can decide cases in which state laws and federal laws are in conflict.

The Constitution of the United States allows the government to delegate many responsibilities to its citizens. Many of these affect the way Americans live.

Keeping up with a capable U.S. military force is the responsibility of the Department of Defense. This department is in charge of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The men and women of the nation in military service protect our interests and our nation.

Law enforcement agencies provide for public order and protect citizen’s rights and freedoms through enforcement of the laws. These agencies operate at all levels of government. Such agencies ensure that a citizen’s rights are not violated by others or by the government.

A service reserved for communications via the written word is the responsibility of the U.S. postal service. Mail is delivered to and from many post offices around the country.

The Federal Highways Administration is responsible for interstate highways and federal roads and helps give money to the construction and maintenance of these roadways with the Highway Trust Fund. This fund gets its income from taxes, known as excise taxes.

Americans have also felt the need to take care of its veterans so far back as Colonial days and the Revolutionary War. Fulfilling this need is the responsibility of the Department of Veteran Affairs, which provides veterans with benefits including medical and dental care, nursing home care, disability compensation, vocational training for disabled veterans, and loans for education, housing, and business.

The government spends billions on programs for people in need. Some programs are financed in part by the federal government and administered by the state governments.

Usually, the Social Security Administration is associated with providing pay for retired persons. It provides other services as well, such as disability pay and medical insurance for the elderly.

Dealing with the governments of other nations is the responsibility of the federal government. The relationships between governments are established by foreign policy. The president makes policy decisions with the assistance of the Department of State, and members of this department help the U.S. maintain diplomatic relations with other countries. It also helps encourage international trade.

The Department of the Interior looks after the conservation of natural resources. The agencies of this department are charged with the preservation and protection of our country’s land, water, minerals, fish, and wildlife. The Environmental Protection Agency also tries to enhance and protect the environment. The EPA is responsible for maintaining air pollution, soil pollution, water pollution, which include threats from solid wastes, noise, radiation, and toxic substances.

The Department of Agriculture seeks to improve farm income, expand markets for agriculturally products, enhance the environment and agricultural production by helping farmers and ranchers protect the soil, water, and forests, and reduce hunger in the United States. This department is also in charge of rural development.

Understanding the great inheritance of democratic values and freedoms is the first step toward becoming a good citizen of the United States. Citizenship goes beyond the understanding of our political system and means getting involved. American society has a tradition of participation and support from its citizens. To keep alive, the idea of citizenship must be learned and carried on by each generation. Effective citizenship requires the practice and development of certain skills. These skills include but are not limited to the knowledge of basic laws, of law enforcement, and of the justice system. It also means understanding the rights and responsibilities of the citizens. By developing these areas or our lives, good citizens develop the ability to problem solve when it comes to the American political system. This political system has changed along with our society for more than two hundred years. The realities of life in America often fall short of the ideals set forth by our national documents. A good citizen aspires to meet these goals.

Citizens of America are necessary to maintain the United States of America as a strong and free nation. Citizenship is the responsibility of every nation.

In this article I used information from “Citizenship In the Nation” in the Boy Scouts of America merit badge series, illustrated by Roy Bolton and researched by Deborah Sizemore.