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By: Ava Cohen, Ava McPartland, and Candy Alvarez

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The most important duty is to know and obey the law. Without laws in place, there would be no order and no rules on how to live, which in return would cause chaos. Violence would be prevalent and people would overthrow the government. No one would feel secure, safe, or free without the rules of the law.

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All citizens have to pay taxes. Including, but not limited to property, sales, and income taxes. The taxes we pay go to the government and it is the main way the government obtains money. They use the money from taxes to pay for necessity's such as education, health care, military, and many other things which benefit the people. We pay taxes and in return, the government gives us beneficial services.

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The 6th Amendment grants everyone the right to an impartial jury of fellow citizens. The jury is the group of people who listen to a case and decide on the verdict. Being part of a jury if called upon is called "Jury Duty" and it is one of your duties as a citizen.

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The selective service, or the draft, is put in place for when the country joins a major war. All men ages 18-25 have to register. If the U.S ever had to enter a war immediately, these men would be randomly selected and would have to participate as a soldier. It is important to defend your country when it is in need.

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Going to school is highly important and is also mandatory until the age of 16 (In North Carolina).  Continuing school allows to pursue a higher education and become one more professional that our country needs. You'll be an effective citizen by helping your country in your workforce.

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It is important to know what is going on in your country. Keeping up to date on current events can help you develop opinions based on facts instead of rumors and lets you know about important issues. Also, if there is an election coming up, it is good to listen to debates and know what issues and relevant and your opinion on them so you can make an informed decision.

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This is one of the essential responsibility's a citizen should do because voting is a fundamental process that keeps our system of government operating. Through voting, citizens have the chance to decide who is representing them in their local government, state government, and in the Federal government. The United States has a low voting rate due to people not caring who comes to power or think that their single vote doesn't matter. Voting is your voice, and the voice many others, and together, that can change the direction of a community, state, and nation.

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As a citizen of a nation, it's extremely essential to respect others and accept their differences. While you might not always agree with someone's beliefs or persona, things will run smoother if you accept it and move on. Everyone has a story behind them or reason for what they are doing and if we went around shaming people for their differences nothing would ever get done. If you respect other peoples opinions and differences, they will respect yours.

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Hoggard students Katie Geschickter, Virginia Griffin, Tyler Glatt, MaryFrances Warner, and Kathia Barriga-Mateos have been working to raise money and send children in Malawi, Africa to school. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. “Our focus is on sending these kids to Primary School,” Glatt said. Seventy-five dollars covers a uniform, as well as a daily meal and supplies for the children for school.
The money is mostly going to the Zomba and Chulochosema regions of the country. The children don't have the money or resources to attend school, and many live in rural areas and come from poor farming families. These students are raising money by accepting donations and selling shirts.

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On the news, there was an article about the Blockade Runner Beach Resort's beach sweeps every other Monday. The environmental coordinator Feletia Lee talked about the importance of cleaning up the beach. She has done many other things to help the community too, such as bringing wasted food from the resort to Good Shepherd and shaving her head four years to help get donations for children cancer, raising $660 so far this year. She has been an effective citizen by helping out the city's beaches, raising awareness about littering, donating food to people in the community, and helping raise money for childhood cancer.

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In 2008 Doug Herbert (a NRHA drag racer) lost his two sons to a car crash. As a result he began a program that would give teenagers skills to prevent similar accidents. The Charlotte, NC based program B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), goes beyond the teachings of drivers ed to make teens more aware when driving, and stay safe. The program teaches things such as, maintaining control on slippery roads, braking in emergencies, and more. The program does not cost money and runs solely on donations. Herbert is being an effective citizen by teaching safety techniques to teens, that can protect everyone. Car accidents are one of the main causes of death in teens each year. By educating and teaching younger generations, Herbert is bettering our future.

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CNN Hero Michelle Christie, is a teacher from Culver City, California who founded a program for kids with hearing loss. The point of the program is to allow these kids be able to engage in activity that would boost their language and self esteem. The organization is called No Limits Theatre Group, acting and theatre for kids with hearing loss. Christie did a lot of traveling to help kids in all areas, and she noticed that the theatre was improving their reading and speech skills. Through her program 100 plays have been produced in multiple states, and more are being produced today. No Limits has made a major impact on these children and their families and has given them a way to interact and feel less "different" when its incredibly difficult with their disabilities. Michelle Christie is an effective citizen because she is taking her time and expertise, to make a difference in these kids lives when they desperately need it.

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How Someone Can Contribute to Their Community

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How Someone Can Contribute to Their Community

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- If you are still in school you can help out with fundraisers.
- Vote in elections besides the presidential election. This would be elections for governor, senate, school board, etc.
- Help clean up local beaches, parks, etc. These areas tend to collect lots of debris and garbage, and picking up one thing makes a difference.
- Volunteer and promote volunteerism. Maybe contribute to a charity or get others involved, volunteer at an animal or homeless shelter, help out at a retirement home. There are so many ways to volunteer and even the smallest thing counts.
- Pay attention to local issues not only national, so that you are informed about what is happening in your area. This will prevent you from missing out on anything that could help you or put you in danger.