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POS Week 1 Question-How do we as citizens of the United States play crucial roles in the functioning and maintenance of our democracy? How can understanding our roles and responsibilities in our society help make our country a better place?

We as citizens play crucial roles in the functioning and maintenance of our democracy because it's the citizens that make up the society. Anything that a citizen does has the potential to impact society as a whole, no matter how small. A single person can spearhead a movement into existence. However, it is often a lot of people who participate in the same movement to achieve something. Understanding our roles and responsibilities in our society can help make our country a better place by understanding what responsibilities we are beholden to to improve the country as a whole. Like doing the chores but for an entire country. Understanding the role of the citizen and the effects that a citizen can have on a country, especially when teaming up with other citizens, can help someone understand the full impact that their actions can have on society as a whole.

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As citizens of the United States, we play a crucial role in the functioning and the maintenance of our democracy for various reasons. We as citizens of a democracy are in control of the government in a way. We get to decide who is sits in every government position through elections and midterms. Our decisions on who gets elected or not elected helps the country run smoothly in terms of a democracy. As citizens, it is important to understand our roles and responsibilities in order to help our country evolve into a better place. Obeying the law, paying taxes, and staying informed on current events can all help in transforming our country for the better. If all citizens obeyed the law, paid taxes, and stayed informed on events locally and nationally, our country would be a much safer and more peaceful place.

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We as citizens play a crucial role in the functionality and maintenance of our democracy by participating. While being a citizen we have the right to freedom of speech, voting, etc. With this being a citizen means we have the right to have a say in our government. Without any citizen voting, we would not have an equal say in our government, not voting would also make it so our needs/wants would not be met. Through voting, this is how we say what we want in a person representing us in the government. Democracy is built on the foundation of citizens participating equally in our government.

Understanding this and our roles and responsibilities helps our society locally and nationally a better place. Participating in things such as community service, speaking out for what you think is right/protesting, and taking advantage of our rights and freedom that are given to us as citizens in the United States will in return give us the country we want.

-Missy Patinka

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Hi students, Mr. Longo here. I am the assistant principal of the Virtual Learning Academy through BT BOCES. Some of you may recognize the name, some may not. I hope you are finding this class engaging. It is crucial that you leave school with an understanding of how our government works and your role in shaping its decisions. You are in good hands with Mr. Coolbaugh, email me any time with any questions about the program :dlongo@btboces.org. Be well and I will leave you with a quote :
"We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."...John F. Kennedy

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As citizens in a democratic country, we are in control of our government. Every citizen has the power to make a change in our government, through participatory civics such as voting, community service, protesting, and more. We elect officials that we trust to represent us and will advocate for our best interest. Understanding our roles and knowing that we directly create our government is important to ensure the greater good of all Americans. We not only have power, but we have all the power thanks to democracy.

Grace Judge

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US citizens play a crucial role in the functioning and maintenance of our democracy. As citizens we pay taxes, participate and vote in elections, and help keep our country safe by doing jury duty. Our responsibilities consist of this and much more. It is our right to be able to vote but is also a responsibility. We can have a say in government and in turn our government can continue to operate smoothly. Understanding that our responsibilities can also be our rights helps us be more willing to participate and be engaged. Because not everyone has the same rights as us. If we begin to view our governmental responsibilities as hard earned rights instead of a chore to be dealt with we will begin to have a better mentality toward our roles as US citizens

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As citizens of the United States the people play a crucial role in sustaining our democracy. One involvement we have within the government is voting in local, state, and federal elections. However, it is an American's right to vote so felons and non-citizens don't have this right. We have this power of voting to have input of whether or not we believe the candidate is a good person and will accurately represent us. When citizens know their roles and responsibilities then it strengthens our democratic government as a whole because of the citizens' engagement. In addition, we can hold each other accountable and encourage others for their participation in our government especially when we want change. -Billie Leet

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As citizens of the United States, it is our responsibliltiy to fufill our civic duties and responsibilties. Serving on juries, obeying the law and most importantly, voting, are all actions that we take part in to maintain and uphold our democracy. Helping to understand our roles and responsibilties is crucial for a funcitoning democracy, and is nessesary to help uphold the values of country. By playing our part in democracy, we are helping to hold others accountable, stregthening our country along with that and overall making the country a better place.

Colleen McGuinness

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There is no democracy without citizens being active and involved within the government. United States citizens play the biggest role in the United States democracy. Voting in local, state, and federal elections is a right that only non felon, American citizens are allowed to do. Voting is the power that citizens have to put people they believe are good into power. When each citizen votes, they use their constitutional right to have a say, their voices heard within the US government.

While voting is a right, not a responsibility, it is a crucial part in a US citizens role. Understanding that voting in elections no matter how big or small is very influential in our government and society. Responsibilities like paying taxes, even though it isn't fun pays for people salaries, roads to be fixed and kids education. Paying taxes, and voting along with other responsibilities and rights are what make the US a good, safe place to live, and understanding that can make our country a better place.

Natalie St. John

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Citizens of the United States play a crucial role in maintaining our democracy by completing civic duties such as voting. Our country's democracy is dependent on citizen engagement and voting is a way to participate and voice your opinion. Understanding our roles and responsibilities as citizens can help to hold people accountable and encourage participation. As a result, we can strengthen our democracy and make our country a better place overall.

-Hannah Somers

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Please make sure to answer each part of the question. Answers should be at least three to five sentences long using proper spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation.