Civics Today Citizenship, Economics, & You

Chapter 1: The American People

Chapter Overviews

Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens. You become a citizen by being born in the United States or by going through a process called naturalization. Citizens have a duty to follow the rules established by the government. The government of the United States is a representative democracy. That means that the citizens choose representatives to make the laws and to govern on their behalf. Today, America's citizens are descendants of immigrants from all over the world.

American citizens are diverse in ethnicity and religion, but they share common values and a commitment to the United States. As citizens, Americans possess certain rights, but they also have responsibilities. With the help of national, state, and local governments, citizens create a society in which people can live and work together peacefully.