D2.Civ.2.6-8: Roles Citizens Play, from Voter and Juror to Protester and Office-Holder

Overview

Lesson Procedure

60-70 minutes of class time across 5 phases.

1. Warm-Up5-10 minutes
2. Direct Instruction20 minutes
3. Guided Practice15 minutes
4. Independent Practice15 minutes
5. Closure5-10 minutes

1. Warm-Up5-10 minutes

   Warm-Up Prompt

   "Think of an adult you know. In the last year, did that person vote, pay a tax, serve on a jury, sign a petition, join a march, serve in the military or hold an elected office? Pick one and write two sentences: What did the person do, and who else was affected by it?"

   List the seven roles on the board and tally which ones students named. Explain that a role is a part a person plays in civic life, and that one person can play several at once. Ask: Which of these is a person ever required to do? Leave the answers open; students will check them against the sources.

2. Direct Instruction20 minutes

   Part 1: The seven roles. Go through the table. Point out the source of each role in the Constitution. The First Amendment protects "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances": a petitioner asks the government in writing to fix a problem, and a protester gathers with others in public to show support for or opposition to something. A redress of grievances means a remedy for complaints. The Sixth and Seventh Amendments protect trial by jury. The Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971) bars denying the vote, in any election, to citizens 18 or older on account of age, and the Sixteenth Amendment (1913) allowed a federal income tax.

   Seven roles citizens play

   Role	What the person does	Required or chosen?
   Voter	Chooses officials and, in some states, votes directly on laws	Chosen; registration is needed in almost every state
   Juror	Hears the evidence in a trial and decides the facts with other jurors	Required when summoned, unless exempt or excused
   Taxpayer	Pays income, sales, property and other taxes that fund public services	Required by law
   Member of the armed forces	Serves in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard, under civilian command	Chosen (enlistment); most men 18 through 25 must register with Selective Service
   Petitioner	Asks officials in writing to act on a problem	Chosen
   Protester	Gathers peacefully in public to support or oppose something	Chosen; towns may set rules on time, place and manner
   Office-holder	Is elected or appointed to make or carry out public decisions	Chosen; takes an oath to support the Constitution

   Part 2: Read the federal sources. Read Sources 1-5 aloud in order. Gloss "felony" (a serious crime), "exempt" (not included in a requirement), "comply" (follow a rule), "allegiance" (loyalty) and "verdict" (a jury's decision). Show Diagram 2: several roles begin at age 18, and the Constitution sets older minimum ages for the highest federal offices. Since 1973 the U.S. armed forces have been all-volunteer, so serving is chosen; the Selective Service System registers young men so that a draft could be held in a national emergency if Congress and the President ordered one. Its "Who Needs to Register" page (sss.gov) states: "Almost all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service."

   Vote.
   Only citizens can vote in federal elections. Most states also restrict the right to vote, in most elections, to U.S. citizens.

   Serve on a jury.
   Only U.S. citizens can serve on a federal jury. Most states also restrict jury service to U.S. citizens. Serving on a jury is an important responsibility for U.S. citizens.

   [...]

   Become an elected official.
   Only citizens can run for federal office (U.S. Senate or House of Representatives) and for most state and local offices.

   [...]

   Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities
   Below you will find several rights and responsibilities that all citizens should exercise and respect. Some of these responsibilities are legally required of every citizen, but all are important to ensuring that America remains a free and prosperous nation.

   [...]

   Responsibilities
   Support and defend the Constitution.
   Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
   Participate in the democratic process.
   Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
   Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
   Participate in your local community.
   Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.
   Serve on a jury when called upon.
   Defend the country if the need should arise.

   1Federal jurors are randomly drawn from a court's “jury wheel” for possible qualification and summoning to report for a jury selection at a later date if they are deemed qualified and necessary for the court’s trial schedule. A jury wheel is the database containing a specified number of names of district residents, with each county in the district represented in the jury wheel in proportion to its number of registered voters.

   2To be legally qualified for jury service, an individual must:
   be a United States citizen;
   be at least 18 years of age;
   have resided primarily in the judicial district for at least one year at the time of completion of the qualification questionnaire;
   be able to adequately read, write, understand, and speak the English language;
   have no disqualifying mental or physical condition that cannot be addressed with an accommodation;
   not currently be subject to felony charges punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and
   never have been convicted of a felony (unless civil rights have been legally restored or never were lost in the jurisdiction of conviction).

   [...]

   3Three groups are exempt from federal jury service:
   members of the armed forces and national guard when on active duty;
   members of non-federal professional (as opposed to volunteer) fire and police departments; and
   “public officers” of federal, state, or local governments – persons either elected to public office or appointed by someone elected to public office – who are actively engaged full-time in the performance of public duties.

   4Persons employed on a full-time basis in any of these categories are barred from serving on federal juries, even if they are otherwise qualified and would like to serve.

   1Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. Explore your rights and our obligations to protect them.

   [...]

   2The Right to Be Informed
   Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. They have the right to be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts and to receive clear explanations of the outcomes.

   [...]

   3The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
   Taxpayers have the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due, including interest and penalties, and to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.

   4The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
   Taxpayers have the right to raise objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal IRS actions or proposed actions, to expect that the IRS will consider their timely objections and documentation promptly and fairly, and to receive a response if the IRS does not agree with their position.

   [...]

   5The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System
   Taxpayers have the right to expect the tax system to consider facts and circumstances that might affect their underlying liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to provide information timely. Taxpayers have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service if they are experiencing financial difficulty or if the IRS has not resolved their tax issues properly and timely through its normal channels.

   (a) Enlistment Oath.—Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:

   "I, ____________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

   (b) Who May Administer.—The oath may be taken before the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary of Defense, any commissioned officer, or any other person designated under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

   An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: "I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." This section does not affect other oaths required by law.

   • Voter and office-holder (Source 1)

     Which two roles in Source 1 can only citizens fill at the federal level?

     Result: Source 1 says "Only citizens can vote in federal elections" and "Only citizens can run for federal office (U.S. Senate or House of Representatives)." A voter chooses who holds office; an office-holder is the person chosen, who then makes or carries out public decisions. The two roles are linked: voters can keep an office-holder or replace them at the next election.

   • Juror (Source 2, paragraph 1)

     How does a federal court find the people who may be called as jurors?

     Result: Source 2 says "Federal jurors are randomly drawn from a court's “jury wheel”" and are summoned only "if they are deemed qualified and necessary for the court’s trial schedule" (paragraph 1). Random selection means no official picks jurors by name, so a jury can reflect the community. A juror listens to the evidence in a trial and, with the other jurors, decides the facts of the case.

   • Taxpayer (Source 3)

     Source 1 lists paying taxes as a responsibility. What does Source 3 say a taxpayer is owed in return?

     Result: Source 3 says taxpayers "have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws" and "the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due." The taxpayer role has two sides: citizens pay for public services such as roads and schools, and the government must explain the rules and collect only what the law requires.

   • Member of the armed forces (Source 4)

     To what or whom does a person enlisting promise loyalty, and before whom can the oath be taken?

     Result: Each person enlisting promises to "bear true faith and allegiance to the same," that is, to the Constitution named just before (Source 4). Allegiance means loyalty, so the oath binds the service member to the Constitution, not to one leader. Part (b) says the oath may be taken before civilian leaders such as "the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary of Defense" or "any commissioned officer."

3. Guided Practice15 minutes

   Pairs read Source 6, an invented scenario. For every paragraph, they write which civic role or roles appear, who plays each role, and one sentence on what the role accomplishes in the story.

   1Maple Falls is an invented town. After several students felt sick from the heat while waiting for the late bus, students at Elm Street Middle School want a shade shelter and a drinking fountain at the bus stop in Elm Street Park, across from the school. The park belongs to the town, so the town council decides.

   2Sixth grader Rosa Diaz and her classmates write a petition, a formal written request signed by many people: "We, the undersigned, ask the Maple Falls Town Council to build a shade shelter with a drinking fountain at the Elm Street Park bus stop." In three weeks they collect 412 signatures from students, parents and neighbors. Rosa reads the petition aloud during the public comment time at a council meeting and hands it to the town clerk.

   3The next Saturday, about 60 people march on the sidewalk from the school to town hall carrying signs that say "Shade for Elm Street." The organizers asked the town for a permit first, and two police officers walk with the group. The march stays on the sidewalk and ends within one hour, as the permit requires.

   4Council member James Okafor, who was elected last year, reports that the town has $18,000 left this year for park improvements, while the shelter and fountain will cost about $24,000. He proposes paying half this year and half next year. The council votes 4 to 1 to approve his plan.

   5Some residents say the money should have gone to fixing potholes first. At the next town election, voters will be able to judge the council's choice. Rosa's older brother turns 18 in October, and he registers to vote so that he can take part.

   Teacher model for paragraph 2: Rosa and her classmates are petitioners. They put their request in writing, gather signatures to show how many people agree, and deliver it to the council in a public meeting. Their petition does not decide anything by itself; it asks the officials who can decide to act.

   Points to draw out: paragraph 3 shows protesters following a permit; paragraph 4 shows an office-holder weighing the request against a budget; paragraph 5 shows voters who will judge the decision and a new voter registering. Ask: why might one council member vote no even though 412 people signed? (Office-holders answer to all residents, including those who wanted potholes fixed first.)

4. Independent Practice15 minutes

   Students reread Sources 1-5 on their own and add the seven roles to a personal chart: one row per role, with a quotation from a source that shows what the role involves. Then they read Source 8, another invented scenario, mark every role they find in it, and answer the quiz, which uses Sources 1-5 and 8.

   1Oak County is an invented county. Its board of supervisors, five people who make the county's laws and budget, plans to close the Oak Street Library on Saturdays to save money. Keeping the library open costs about $1,500 for each Saturday.

   2A group of parents and retirees writes a letter to the board asking it to keep Saturday hours. They gather 950 signatures at grocery stores and the farmers market, and one of them, Mr. Alvarez, presents the stack of pages at the board's next public meeting.

   3Two weeks later, about 80 people hold a candlelight vigil on the library steps. The county's rules for gatherings on public property say they must leave the entrance clear and finish by 9 p.m. The group keeps a path open to the door and ends at 8:30.

   4Supervisor Helen Wu was appointed to the board in March to fill a seat left empty when another supervisor moved away. She suggests keeping the library open on Saturdays for 20 weeks during the school year as a trial. The board votes 3 to 2 to approve the trial.

   5Some taxpayers write to the local paper that the county should not spend more on the library while roads need repair. Ms. Okonjo, who became a U.S. citizen last month, registers to vote in time for the next county election, when two of the five seats will be on the ballot.

5. Closure5-10 minutes

   Exit ticket: On an index card, choose two of the seven roles that could work together on one problem in your community. Explain in three sentences what each person would do and how the two roles help each other.

   Teacher note on the sources: Sources 1-5 are federal government texts quoted exactly as published, including their headings and list format. Federal agencies sometimes update these pages, so the wording on the live site may change. Source 2 describes federal courts; state courts set their own juror rules, which are often similar. Selective Service rules are described as stated by the agency in 2026. Petition and protest appear here as civic roles protected by the First Amendment; the activities simulate them in class, and students are not asked to contact officials or join any real campaign.

   Homework passage. Source 7, an invented scenario about neighbors on one street, is used for the homework.

   1Cedar Lane is an invented street of neighbors. Mrs. Lee, who is 58 and a U.S. citizen, has lived in the same judicial district for 20 years. She receives a summons, an official order to appear in court, for federal jury service. She serves on a jury that decides a case about a stolen truck.

   2Mr. Patel, 31, owns a bakery. In April he files his income tax return and pays what he owes. Every month he also sends the state the sales tax his customers paid on their purchases.

   3Tom, who just turned 18, registers with Selective Service when he gets his driver's license. His cousin Maya, 19, enlists in the Navy and takes the enlistment oath.

   4Ms. Grant was just elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. On the first day of the new Congress she takes the oath of office, and in her second week she votes on a bill about highway repairs.

   5Ruth and Sam, both 70, vote in every election. This year they also sign a petition asking the state legislature to pay for a new library, and they join a silent vigil, a quiet and peaceful gathering, outside the state capitol.

Differentiation Strategies

Assessment Guidance

1. Question 1 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Which responsibility in Source 1 connects most directly to the role of a member of the armed forces?

   AParticipate in the democratic process. BStay informed of the issues affecting your community. CDefend the country if the need should arise. DRespect and obey federal, state, and local laws.

2. Question 2 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Source 1 lists "Serve on a jury when called upon" under which heading?

   ARights BResponsibilities CImportant Reasons to Consider U.S. Citizenship DBenefits of a U.S. passport

3. Question 3 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   According to Source 2, how is each county's share of names in a federal "jury wheel" decided?

   ABy how many registered voters it has BBy how many trials it held last year CBy the judge's choice of residents DBy how many people ask to serve

4. Question 4 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Under Source 2, which person would NOT be legally qualified for federal jury service?

   AA 19-year-old citizen who has lived in the district for two years BA 64-year-old citizen who reads and speaks English well CA citizen now charged with a felony punishable by two years DA citizen who has never been charged with a crime

5. Question 5 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   According to Source 2, what happens to a person in one of the three exempt groups who would like to serve on a federal jury?

   AThey may serve if a judge approves BThey must wait one year and then serve CThey may serve only in civil cases DThey are barred from federal juries

6. Question 6 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Which right in Source 3 would a taxpayer use if she thinks the IRS has asked her to pay too much?

   AThe Right to Be Informed BThe Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard CThe Right to Quality Service DThe Right to Retain Representation

7. Question 7 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   In Source 4, whose orders does a person enlisting promise to obey?

   AOnly the orders passed by a vote of Congress BThe orders of the state governor alone CThe President and officers over the person DAny elected official who asks for help

8. Question 8 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Which promise appears in both the enlistment oath (Source 4) and the oath of office (Source 5)?

   ATo obey the orders of the President BTo faithfully discharge the duties of the office CTo follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice DTo support and defend the Constitution

9. Question 9 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Source 5 says the oath of office is taken by people "elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit." Who is the one exception it names?

   AThe President BMembers of the Senate CFederal judges DMembers of the armed forces

10. Question 10 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    In Source 8, paragraph 2, what makes the parents and retirees petitioners?

    AThey hold a vigil on the library steps BThey vote on the plan for a trial CThey gather signatures on a written request DThey write letters to the local paper

11. Question 11 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Which detail in Source 8, paragraph 3, shows the vigil following the county's rules for gatherings?

    AAbout 80 people come to the library BThe group keeps a path to the door and ends at 8:30 CThe vigil takes place two weeks after the meeting DThe people hold candles on the library steps

12. Question 12 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    In Source 8, paragraph 4, which role does Helen Wu play, and how did she get it?

    AOffice-holder, appointed to fill an empty seat BOffice-holder, elected by the county's voters CPetitioner, by presenting the signatures DTaxpayer, by paying for the trial

13. Question 13 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    In Source 8, a Saturday of library hours costs about $1,500. How much does the 20-week trial cost?

    A$1,500 B$30,000 C$48,000 D$78,000

14. Question 14 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Ms. Okonjo in Source 8 became a U.S. citizen last month. According to Source 1, which role in a federal election is newly open to her?

    ATaxpayer BPetitioner CProtester DVoter

15. Question 15 of 20 · Short Answer

    Using Source 1 and Source 2, explain why jury service is both a responsibility and something only some people can do.

    Show model answer

16. Question 16 of 20 · Short Answer

    Explain the difference between a petitioner and a protester, using one example of each from Source 8.

    Show model answer

17. Question 17 of 20 · Short Answer

    The board in Source 8 votes 3 to 2 for the trial. Explain why a supervisor might vote no on a request that 950 people signed, and how voters can respond to either vote.

    Show model answer

18. Question 18 of 20 · Short Answer

    Source 1 lists "Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time." According to Source 3, when can a taxpayer get help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service, and why does a role that requires payment also come with rights?

    Show model answer

19. Question 19 of 20 · Short Answer

    Why do you think the enlistment oath in Source 4 asks a service member to obey the President, an elected civilian, instead of a military officer at the top? Use the oath's words.

    Show model answer

20. Question 20 of 20 · Short Answer

    Choose two roles from Source 8 and explain how they work together on the library problem.

    Show model answer

These standards connect to D2.Civ.2.6-8: prerequisites to review first, parallel standards at the same level, and next steps that build on it.

Standard text: National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards: Guidance for Enhancing the Rigor of K-12 Civics, Economics, Geography, and History (Silver Spring, MD: NCSS, 2013). NCSS was not involved in the production of this lesson and does not endorse it.