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  • Essay / Being an American - 703

    One of the unique elements of the United States Constitution is the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights guarantees certain rights to citizens; some of these reasons include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to peacefully assemble, the right to bear arms, etc. Citizens of many countries around the world do not have the protection of their governments; their personal rights and freedoms are violated every day and the government is often responsible. Americans are entitled to the rights granted by the Bill of Rights as well as many other rights enshrined in the Constitution. Civic Responsibility Finally, while it is great to have the personal rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, it is important to remember that a certain level of responsibility accompanies these rights. Being an American requires civic participation, usually in the form of voting. One of the signs of a healthy democracy is the voting rate of citizens. Government can only be truly representative if members of the democracy use their voice through the voting booths. For example, we cannot complain about a president if he chose not to vote at all..