Are you a good citizen? What are your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of the United States?

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.--The United States Constitution, 1787

It is Election Day 2004. Suzannah Kimbrel rises before dawn, eager to get to the polls by 6 a.m. She is 16 and must wait two more years before she can vote. But she still wants to do her part.

"For the past three years, I've been a Kids Voting USA precinct captain," says the 10th-grader from Charlotte, North Carolina. "I hand kids ballots and explain how to fill them out. If I create a positive atmosphere, they'll continue to come back when they can legally vote. That will help more Americans get involved in their country."

U.S. teens like Suzannah enjoy freedoms that other young people around the world can only dream of. But with these freedoms come responsibilities.

"The foundation of our government is built on citizen participation," says Stephen Frank, rice president of Education and Exhibits at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Without active citizenship, our government doesn't work and won't protect our liberties."

The Bill of Rights

The U.S. Constitution, the highest law in the land, guarantees basic freedoms to every American. Written in 1787, it established the structure of our government. Yet, in the beginning, leaders from some states objected that certain important liberties were not specified in the Constitution. As a result, the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791, and added to the Constitution. Among the rights it protects are freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Although the Constitution preserves our freedoms, it is only as strong as the citizens it protects. "[President] Harry Truman said that the highest office in a democracy is that of the citizen," Caroline Kennedy told JS. Kennedy is the author of In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action. "All of us, under the Constitution, are the people who are running the country," she adds.

Since kids cannot vote, however, many feel powerless to make a difference. They shouldn't, says Joe Kunkel, a professor of political science at Minnesota State University. "Young people can read the paper, watch the news, and engage in discussions with family and friends," he says.

Getting involved means learning about issues both large and small. "It could be anything from making sure the street in front of [your] house has a traffic light ... to expressing [yourself] about the great national issues of the day," says Frank.

Power to the People

Once they educate themselves, teens can begin to share their views by writing letters to government officials and circulating petitions. "People who are involved," says Kunkel, "will have the most power."

That is why Suzannah goes to the polls each year. As part of the next generation of voters, she wants to have a voice. "Many people just complain about the leadership of the country," she says. "If they don't get involved, there is no point in complaining. They're not doing anything to change the way the country is run."

RELATED ARTICLE: Don't sit on the sidelines.

As the daughter of John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. President, Caroline Kennedy knows something about public service. "I feel very lucky to live in America," Kennedy told JS, "and to have grown up in a free country. I feel like I have a chance to affect the kind of country that I live in, and I think that each one of us does."

Kennedy is heartened that more and more young people are taking an active role in public life. "We saw a lot of interest and involvement around the time of the last election," she says. "Many more students are doing community service and volunteering."

How can you get involved? Start small, says Kennedy. "If kids are following what's going on in their school, their church, their community, they can pick one thing they are interested in and get involved."

Choosing a cause close to home is key, Kennedy believes. "It's easy to sit on the sidelines and think something is boring or going on far away from you," she says. If you follow a local issue, she adds, "you will find it much more interesting."

Words to Know

* adopted: approved.

* petitions: formal requests for change.

* posterity: future generations.

* precinct: election district.

Your Turn

WORD MATCH

1. posterity                    A. approve

2. U.S.                         B. formal request
   Constitution                    for change

3. precinct                     C. future
                                   generations

4. adopt                        D. highest law in
                                   the land

5. petition                     E. election district

Answers:

1. C

2. D

3. E

4. A

5. B

THINK ABOUT IT

1. What are the responsibilities of citizens in the U.S.?

2. Name one of the challenges facing your school or community Offer some solutions.

QUICK QUIZ

* Decide whether each sentence is true, false, or an opinion. Write your answer on the blank line provided.

--21. The Bill of Rights was adopted before the U.S. Constitution became law.

--22. People who don't vote shouldn't complain about the way the country is run.

--23. The U.S. Constitution is the highest law in the land.

--24. Members of Kids Voting USA are allowed to vote before age 18.

--25. People who vote should be informed about the issues.

21. false

22. opinion

23. true

24. false

25. opinion