Wednesday, June 8, 2016

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP ---- CIVICS FORM ONE STUDY NOTES



{II}.Citizenship Responsibilities
To many people, duty and responsibility are two words which are used interchangeably most of the time. Duty simply means a legal or moral obligation of a person to perform certain legal tasks. On the other hand, responsibility is the situation of having a duty and be blamed if one does wrong. Therefore, all citizens have duties and responsibilities to perform in their country

The Responsibilities of a Citizen

Explain the responsibilities of a citizen

These responsibilities are also called civic responsibilities. They can be put into four categories — personal, political, social and economic.

Personal Responsibility- A person can be considered a good citizen if one: behaves in a respectful manner; takes care of oneself; makes worth-fully decisions; considers the rights, freedom and interests of others and supports the family.

Political responsibilities- A good citizen should participate fully in the political affairs of his/her nation like being well informed on local, national and international issues. Also should watch and give opinions on the process of government and its activities. The one who is registered, contests for leadership and vote in every local or national election; participating in political meetings like public rallies and local meetings to discuss local issues and being ready to defend one’s nation, even to the extent of shedding blood.

Social responsibilities-These rights are not limited to the following: respect for other people’s rights, good conduct on crimes prevention and reporting. Respect the laws of the country, be honest, civility and allegiance to the lawful authority, protect the environment, safeguard public property, promote education, health services and help disabled people.

Economic responsibilities-These responsibilities include: payment of taxes and duties; doing lawful productive work; provide to dependents basic material and social services and be active participant in community development activities

Civic Responsibilities
Practice civic responsibilities
Importance of individuals fulfilling their civic responsibilities
There is a great need for individuals to fulfill their civic responsibilities because individuals have a duty to ask for the provision of quality education, good roads, electricity, or water if they have already paid their taxes. This is because duties and rights go together.
When a person fulfills ones civic responsibilities, he/she becomes a respected person in the family, society, nation, and even at the international level. This may make people be fully involved in social, political and economic activities for the development of a nation. For example, the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere was highly respected everywhere because he fulfilled his responsibilities as a citizen of Tanzania.
Crimes and wrong doing will also be reduced to a great extent if everyone fulfill his/her own civic responsibilities. Finally, peace and security may prevail in the country.
Dangers of not fulfilling one’s civic responsibilities
There is a great danger if citizens do not fulfill their responsibility because a person cannot claim for ones rights if at all one does not fulfill civic responsibilities, like paying tax and duties. Sometimes in responsible citizens can be sued in a court of law. For example, tax evaders, and lack of respect for the family and the nation may prevail.
Furthermore, families of people who do not fulfill their responsibilities lead a miserable life of poverty, and witness an increase in social evil and ethnics, e.g. killing, stealing and banditry. Finally, fulfillment of one’s civic responsibility contributes to the underdevelopment of the nation.

Exercise 1
A: Match the wards in column A with the correct statement in column B
Column A
Column B
1.     Duty
2.     Civic responsibilities
3.     Personal responsibilities
4.     Economic responsibilities
5.     Social responsibilities
a.     pay taxes and duties
b.     steal ones property
c.      accept responsibilities
d.     appointed leadership
e.      help disabled people
f.       having a duty and be blamed for
g.     legal or moral obligation for doing task

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