THE PEOPLE KEEP FOR THEMSELVES ALL THE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT DELEGATED The Ninth and Tenth Amendments made clear that the authority in the United States belongs to "the people." The Ninth Amendment says that the rights already described in the Constitution and the first eight amendments are not the only rights of the people, and that other rights are not taken away from the people because the Constitution and amendments do not mention them. The Tenth Amendment says that any powers not delegated by the Constitution to the Federal Government, or definitely taken away from the states, shall be reserved (belong) to the States, and to "the people." These two amendments thus recognize the people of the United States as the real partners in all the government organization and agencies. THE PEOPLE SHALL ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT This right is a part of the Constitution itself and was a very unusual thing when the Constitution was adopted. All the great nations of Europe were kingdoms or empires and most of them were autocracies in which the king or emperor had all the authority, the "last word" which settled all questions without the consent of the people. But the leaders of the new Nation promised that the people should always have a form of government in which the authority would belong to them and would be used by their representatives for the good of all. A citizen who has reached a given age may be chosen to represent the people among whom he lives. All men are equal as far as the enforcement of the laws is concerned. This, in general, is what is meant by a republican form of government. SPECIAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS A citizen is a full member of the United States of America. An unnaturalized person may live safely in st this country and share in the rights of freedom and justice that we have been describing, but he cannot have a part in government activities by voting, by serving as a representative of his neighbors or his district, by helping to manage the government, or by holding a government job. He has to take the kind of government that citizens of the United States give him, in his village or city, in his State, or in the Nation. It is generally a good government, but an alien, as long as he remains so, cannot vote to change it to meet changing conditions. In most States aliens cannot be lawyers or doctors or get licenses to engage in certain other businesses. In many States they do not get the benefit of public assistance laws and other laws to help citizens in time of need. THE RIGHT TO VOTE Almost all citizens over 21 years old have the right to vote. Each of the 50 States has the power to decide which of its citizens may vote, and they generally provide that, before qualifying to vote, a citizen must have lived in the State long enough to settle down and begin " making himself a home. Some States will not let citizens vote unless they can read and write. Most of the States refuse voting rights to idiots, insane persons, and those who have been convicted of serious crimes. The Constitution of the United States guarantees that no citizen shall be refused the right to vote because of race, color, or sex. It also guarantees that no citizen shall be prevented from voting for the President, the Vice President, or Members of the Congress because he has not paid a tax. Each citizen should do his very best to vote wisely. He should try to think for himself after hearing and reading as much as he can on a given question or set of candidates. Women should use their right to vote and should help to choose good officials. Today our different governments are making thousands of laws and rules. Many of these are about our homes, schools, children, and neigh borhood living. In towns and cities, as well as in the Federal and State Governments, laws and rules are constantly being made about such things as our work and business, and the safety of our homes, our health, and tour money. Study Figure 25 and see how many of the subjects of laws or rules listed there are to be found in your own neighborhood or community. It is only through wise voting that we can elect better officials who will give us a modern, up-to-date government. It is only through frequent elections that we can learn what the people want, whom they wish to choose to manage their government, and how they believe the government should be run. In our country we believe in "the rule of the majority. This means that decisions must be made according to the votes of more than half of those voting. However, in elections where several persons seek the ns same public office, the winning candidate may get less - than a majority of the votes cast, although receiving more than any of his opponents. The excess of his votes over those of the next highest candidate is called a "plurality." The citizen should give serious thought not only to the right that he has but also to his duty to vote. He should vote every time he is asked to do so. Only in this way can we have "a government by the people." THINGS TO DO Questions to discuss in your study group: 1. How many reasons can you think of that would probably make aliens living in our country want to become naturalized citizens? 2. Make a list of the valuable rights that members of your group have shared, even as noncitizens living in your community. 3. Would you answer "yes" or "no" to each of the following statements? Yes ᄆ No. ᄆ 1. Is an alien free to share in all the rights and opportunities of government in the United States? 2. Does an alien share in the personal rights that are guaranteed to us in the Bill of Rights? 3. May newspapers print opinions that are not the same as those of the political party in power? 4. Do citizens of the United States have a right to assemble (meet together) peaceably? 5. In time of peace, could the Government force you to let soldiers live in your home if you did not wish to have them? 6. Can an accused person be held for many years before being granted a trial in this country? 7. Could a judge sentence an accused person to be tortured to death? 8. Is it necessary for every qualified citizen to vote in order to keep this a true republican form of government? Some more words that the student should understand: abridging-making smaller, decreasing. autocracies-governments in which one person has all the final authority. criticize-find fault with a person or thing. descendants-all the children, grandchildren, great-grandchil- dictators-leaders who have autocratic authority for a short time. exchange-trade, barter. exercise-use or practice. generous-free about giving things away. idiots-persons without sound minds from birth. impose-lay a burden or weight on. imprisonment-condition of being locked up in prison. |