Southwest High School - Roundup Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS By JOE DUBA ' The United States were molded by a freedom-loving people. Since most of the settlers in the colonial period came from the British Isles, they brought with them the traditional English love of liberty, Magna Charta started the system of representative government in England and established the principle of limited monarchy. In 1265, Simon de Montfort introduced into Parlia- ment representation of the great middle class, which later developed into the House of Commons, making Parliament a truly national body. One of the Stuart kings, Charles I, took much power away from Parliament, but later the King needed money, and before granting him any, Parliament made him sign the Petition of Rights, which, unfortunately, was often violated by Charles. During the War with Scotland, Parliament received more power, and provided that Parliament could be dissolved only at its own consent. Many, however, weary of these abuses by the crown, and, hearing of America as the land of freedom, came here to form the original thirteen colonies. Through many hardships they finally reached these objectives: they drew up a document to protect all people at all times, the Constitution: they established the first great modern republic: they wrote the Declaration of Independence, the gospel of all liberty-loving people. The struggle was hard, but the prize was great. They were now guaranteed their inalienable rights in a sovereign state. In the Fourteenth Amendment citizenship is defined, and two kinds of citizenship are mentioned. The statement is: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. This is termed the duality of citizenship. We are granted special privileges and bound to perform certain duties to the national government and likewise to the state government. The combined rights and duties of both governments form our federal system. Both national and state constitutional provisions will be dealt with as one in this paper because of their similarity. The privileges we are offered are seldom refused. The difficulty arises when the citizens are asked to perform their duties. Whenever the government attempts to take away a privilege from the people the government receives vigorous protests. Riotous demonstrations followed the passage of the Eigh- teenth Amendment in 1919, and eventually led to its repeal by the Twenty- first Amendment. The first group of amendments to the Constitution was the Bill of Rights, guaranteeing the fundamental rights of all people. In the more modern state constitutions, the Bill of Rights is longer and more elaborate because the people want a stronger guarantee of their rights, especially against the possible encroachments of state legislatures. We seldom get something for nothing. When we are given a privilege, we are automatically obliged to perform its corresponding duty. One writer states: Duties are as sacred as privileges. By doing our duties, we protect our privileges. It is unfortunate that many people think first of what they can get, and very seldom, if ever, of what they can give to the community as citizens. The most precious privilege and duty that citizens of the United States have is that of electing their representatives to carry out their will and to express their opinions. This is the greatest means by which citizens share in the Federal system of government. A century and a half ago a large majority of citizens were denied the right to use the ballot, because of some political, social or property disqualification. As late as 1860, many could not vote. Finally, after the Civil War, the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified, denying to no one the right to vote because of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude. Not until 1920 was the word sex added to this list by the Nineteenth Amendment. After the many hardships and difliculties to acquire popular suffrage, it is unfortunate that a great percentage of voters still are not adequately Eighteen '

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Ambassador. In fact, about the only oflices not as yet held by women in the United States are the Presidency, Vice-Presidency, and the Supreme Court. The third of the three fundamental principles of democracy is liberty, the most precious birthright of Anglo-Saxon peoples since Magna Charta was wrested from King John, When the Constitution was referred to the States for ratification in 1787, it contained no specific guarantees against governmental abridgement of personal rights. Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which had experienced the despotism of the intolerant Puritans during the colonial period, insisted upon the inclusion of such guarantees before they would ratify the document. The result was the first ten Amendments, usually referred to as the American Bill of Rights, which were adopted in l79l. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and petition, freedom of religious worship-truly these are the very cornerstones of democracy. But, even with these rights listed in the National Constitution, they were not as yet completely guaranteed. The Supreme Court, in the case of Twining Us. New Jersey, stated that under the federal form of government the national Bill of Rights limits only the national government. lt became necessary, there- fore, for every state constitution to include also a list of rights similar to those in the supreme law of the land. The speed with which these provisions were added to such state constitutions as did not have them was conclusive proof that our people still prize these sacred rights as of old. Our task now is to preserve these liberties and to be watchful lest they be curtailed by those in our midst who now cry most loudly for their protection. Let us, then, appreciate the advances that have been made toward the ultimate goal-democracy. Let us realize that much remains to be done, for as yet we fall far short of the ideal. Let us, Hnally, rededicate our most strenuous service to pushing onward the frontiers a little farther, that We may have our part in the irresistible march of democracy. Laverne Km-bel Seventeen

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concerned with their country's welfare to use wisely their honest vote. For example, in the election of 1928, only 5095 of the eligible voters went to the polls. The ballot system of expressing public opinion was intended as a system by which the people rule themselves. But many citizens who do not vote are being ruled, not by themselves, but by greedy professional political bosses and their political machines. These political bosses and machines take advantage of the failure of some citizens to vote and are thereby able to rule with their well-organized minority. These citizens, who are too busy to vote help elect these enemies of society. Yet those who do not vote are usually the first to complain about unsatisfactory ofHcers. Half-interested citizens, who fail to vote in primary elections cannot expect to go to the polls at the final election and find a choice between outstanding candidates. Eternal vigilance is the price of democracy. The ofiice will not change the man. The incentive for more capable citizens to become our public oflicers, knowing they will be really serving society, may come with the decline of machine politics. Every responsible citizen Wishes a Voice in his government. Some do not use it, some abuse it. But if a person desires to say something that he feels ought to be said, he is allowed in this country the privilege of saying it publicly, in open meeting, or before the microphone, unless it disturbs the public peace. Although these precious rights of free speech and peaceable assembly are guar- anteed, yet here too arises the duty of preventing selfish persons from abusing these rights by spreading false information and arousing hatreds by appeals to prejudice and bigotry. Some who take most advantage of free speech are advocating a system which rigidly curbs the freedom of speech. These great privileges challenge citizens to be able to distinguish the sensible from the senseless and dangerous. Citizens are further privileged in America to publish information that may be helpful in advancing knowledge among men. In no other land are citizens permitted to circulate printed information so freely. Books, magazines, the daily press-these are great moulders of public opinion. But the corresponding responsibility in a democracy is clear: the responsibility of those who write to record objectively the whole truth, and the responsibility of the masses who read to search diligently for all the facts. One of the most abused human rights in many parts of the modern world is the free exercise of religious conviction. Our supreme law provides complete freedom of religion, and forbids religious qualification for public office. In this land, Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant stand perfectly equal before the law. The genuine religious spirit flourishes best in a democracy. And when Catholics, Protestants, or Jews begin to indulge in religious intolerance, then one of the cornerstones of democracy is threatened. Under-cover prejudices against certain religions are evident even in the United States. But such preju- dices cannot be tolerated in a democracy. If unchecked, this insidious force leads ultimately to chaos. In the Fourteenth Amendment states are prohibited from depriving citizens of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Police and courts of justice seek to prevent the taking of our property, or the endangering of our lives. We must in turn respect our fellow citizens' lives and property. Our government, national, state and local, has sought increasingly of late to provide social legislation for the economic well-being of our people. The patriotic cooperation of citizens is necessary to make social security a future reality. These privileges of American citizens form an impressive total. To maintain them necessitates a body of citizens who habitually pay their taxes and perform their duties. Knowledge and appreciation of the laws is a challenge to the education of citizens in a democracy. Let us, as citizens, strive for the perpetuation of the land of the free , and let us strive to build the ideal country composed of all peoples blended into one community life and trying to transmit to the next generation a greater, better, and more beautiful country. Nineteen