Citizenship is a legal status that confers rights and obligations upon individuals. Most people in the world have a legal citizenship of some sort, which often confers privileges such as voting rights and protection from coercive actions by government officials. But a sense of citizenship is much more than just this – it involves a deeper sense of belonging to a common civilisation, an identical set of rights and responsibilities and loyalty to a national identity.
This broader sense of citizenship is often reflected in the practices of tribal colleges and universities, where students are taught how to be good citizens within their own nations. This kind of learning is designed to inculcate a deep respect and understanding of tribal core cultural values, which are fundamental to the functioning of democracy and the development of a good citizen.
In general, the public believes that there are a few key tasks and traits that all good citizens must possess: participating in government (voting), following the laws, paying taxes, and volunteering for things such as community service and jury duty. There is a wide degree of agreement on these matters, even among Republicans and Democrats and those without a political party affiliation. A majority of all groups say that most or all of these duties are important to being a good citizen.
The most popular responsibility is voting, which all groups agree is very important to being a good citizen. The public is less sure about other responsibilities, such as obeying the laws, supporting local businesses, and knowing the Pledge of Allegiance. Still, majorities of all age groups say that each of these is very or somewhat important to being a good citizen.
For young adults, there is a notable difference in the importance placed on some of these responsibilities, particularly in relation to older adults. For example, while large majorities of both young and old adults say that it is very important to vote in elections, only about half of those aged 18 to 29 say the same. By contrast, 85% of those ages 65 and up say it is very important to vote in elections.
Similarly, young adults are much less likely to think that supporting local businesses and artists is very important to being a good citizen. However, most in both age groups say that it is very or somewhat important to know the history of one’s country, and that it is important to support local economies. The concept of citizenship is a complex one, and it can be difficult to determine what exactly makes someone a good citizen. The definition may vary according to the individual, but one thing that is clear is that all good citizens must be loyal and committed to their nation. Despite the many difficulties that our nation faces, all citizens must do what they can to make this country a great place to live. We owe it to ourselves and our future generations to do all we can to make this happen.