Complete Guide to Civic Duty in the U.S.

Becoming an American citizen is a dream-come-true moment for many who immigrate to the United States every year. But with benefits come responsibilities. As soon as you become a U.S. citizen, you are obligated to handle these responsibilities, which are also known as “civic duties.”

What Is a Civic Duty?

The United States, ever since its inception as an independent country, is a democracy. That means people have certain rights and privileges as American citizens. But along with that, the Constitution also imposes specific responsibilities or duties that citizens must undertake to meet societal standards and guidelines. These are known as “civic duties.”

Individuals who are citizens by birth automatically take up this responsibility once their parents get a birth certificate for them.

Immigrants who become citizens by undergoing naturalization agree to these responsibilities voluntarily when they take the Oath of Allegiance. Here are some of the things you’d be promising at the oath ceremony: 

• To give up allegiance to your native or former country (I renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen)
• To always defend the United States Constitution and its laws (support and defend the constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies)
• To remain loyal to the United States’ laws and regulations (I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same)
• To serve in the military or other civil services if the need arises (I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law)

Finally, you confirm that you’re taking the responsibilities freely and at your own will without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.

After the Oath of Allegiance is over, you officially become a U.S. citizen.

Who Is Responsible for Civic Duties?

Civic duties are meant for all American citizens, irrespective of their race, gender, status, economic background, or other attributes. Whether one has gained U.S. citizenship by birth or by naturalization, they’re responsible for following civic duties all the time.

What Are the Different Civic Duties?

Now that you know you’re obligated to perform civic duties once you become an American citizen, you must be wondering what those duties are. While there can be many, there are some important ones which you’re going to have to obey in everyday life. Here are some of them:

Obeying the Law

Just like every other country, citizens of the United States are governed by a national set of laws. These are known as federal laws. Each state also has its own set of laws; these vary from state to state. As a citizen, you must obey both federal and state laws. But there are also local laws. Let’s explore them in brief.

Federal Law

Federal laws originate from the Constitution of the United States. The United States Code describes the laws at this level. The president can sign a bill into law. Alternatively, Congress can also enact a law by overriding a president’s veto. You’ll find all the federal-level rules in the Federal Register, which is published every year.

State Law

All 50 states in the United States are separate sovereigns, and each one follows its own constitution. They possess the plenary power to make laws that do not preempt the federal Constitution.

Local Law

A state is composed of thousands of townships, counties, special districts, and cities. Many states have delegated the lawmaking process to each community rather than imposing generalized laws and regulations on every community. It’s not uncommon for a resident to live under six or more layers of local laws.

Paying Taxes

As a United States citizen, you’re also responsible for paying taxes, in a timely fashion, on all your income generated in the U.S. and abroad. You must inform the IRS about all of your income sources. Failing to do so will attract strict actions and fines.

Just as there are federal, state, and local laws, there are federal, state, and local taxation systems. Of all the taxes, federal tax is what you pay the most. This means the federal government takes the lion’s share. The Internal Revenue Code governs federal tax law on the primary statutory basis.

As of 2020, taxpayers must pay 10% tax on their income on earnings up to $9,875. People with income from $9,876 to $40,125 will end up paying 12% of their income as income tax. People with income between $40,126 and $85,525 will pay 22%.

The highest income tax bracket starts at $518,401, at which point the tax percentage will be 37. So, you need to file your taxes accordingly with the IRS.

At a local level, there will be both resident and nonresident taxes. Nonresidents pay taxes on money earned in that municipality.

Also, these numbers change from time to time. So, keep yourself updated and file accordingly to avoid a tax penalty.

Serving on a Jury

The United States government can ask you to serve on a jury. The reason you might be called up to serve as a juror is to ensure a speedy and impartial trial. This is in line with the Sixth Amendment, which preserves the defendant’s right for such a trial.

If you ever receive an official summons to serve jury duty, you must appear before the court, or else you’ll be subject to contempt of court and other charges.

The time frame to appear before the court can be as immediate as the next day, depending on the circumstances. Once you arrive at the assigned court, you’ll fill out a questionnaire and participate in the selection process.

But it’s also possible to request an exemption from jury duty. The accepted reasons for exemption vary from state to state, but they aren’t guaranteed.

Registering for Selective Services

The United States military is an all-volunteer organization. This means people are willing to serve in the military. But an Act of Congress can reinstate a draft that makes it mandatory for every U.S. citizen to enlist in the United States armed forces. The Selective Service System is the agency responsible for running this draft. Once drafted, you’re bound to serve in the military by law.

Usually, all American men and immigrants living in the U.S. aged 18-25 must register themselves for the Selective Service. If you’re a man of age 18-25, you should voluntarily register yourself into the Selective Service at the Oath of Allegiance.

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Conclusion

United States laws keep evolving. New bills are passed while older ones are revoked. As a United States citizen, you must keep up to date and follow the newer rules accordingly. In return, the U.S. Constitution will offer you all the rights and perks of being an American citizen.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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