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__Citizen__: A native or naturalized individual who owes allegiance to a government (as of a state or nation) and is entitled to the enjoyment of governmental protection and to the exercise of civil rights A citizen of the United States is entitled to and obligated to abide by what is expected of a citizen. In our world today; the only guideline a citizen has to follow in order to meet expectations is the constitution and our laws.
 * The definition of the word **citizen** explains a general description of what common social order has established.
 * Under the Fourteenth Amendment, "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

Any citizen can achieve and obey our laws to the standard yet this does not make him/her a good citizen.

What does it mean to be a GOOD citizen?[[image:http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l8ZBsSeLPxk/SGuELoyxRvI/AAAAAAAABAs/CFsIhtJtk9A/s400/citizenship.jpg align="right"]]

 * Although there is no exact definition of what a good citizen is; there are social morals and ethics on what the majority of citizens would describe as meritorious and commendable.


 * Below are comparisons that group 11 has distinguished that meet the social morals and ethical values of an admirable citizen.**

US Citizen vs. Military
One of the most unselfish acts a citizen can partake is becoming a member of the military. What a large portion of the population does not realize is that a military member does not adhere to the same standards or laws that the average citizen must fulfill; therefore the expectations and consequences may vary drastically.
 * If the average citizen did not show up to work for a couple of days, that employee may be fired. This is the typical consequence an average person faces. If a military member did not show up for work, he is given 48 hrs. to respond for his absence, if he fails to meet this deadline he is considered [|AWOL]. This is punishable by court-martial, or in a time of war, death.
 * As a citizen of the United States you are given the divine right to freedom of speech. The constitution provides the protection to exercise this freedom with no fear of retaliation. A military member is not given this right and faces severe consequences if he/she speaks against the President, Nation, or those appointed over him he faces court-martial. This law is [|CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS]
 * When the average citizen injures a person physically, with the intent to injure, he has committed the crime of assault. At the common law level, the consequence is a misdemeanor, which may result to a fine or minimal jail time. If a military member [|ASSAULTS] anyone he will face court-martial, in a time of war, the consequence is death.
 * Sodomy was a crime in the United States until the 2003 Lawrence vs. Texas supreme court decision to invalidate sodomy laws. This supreme court decision does not apply to military members. The act of [|SODOMY] is a law that every military member must abide by and if the offense has been committed, the consequence is court-martial.
 * COURT MARTIAL:** May be any punishment a military court gives; common punishments are demotion of rank, decreased pay, general dishonorable discharge, prison sentence, or even death.

What makes a good citizen? An individual who is willing to serve his country, yet held to higher standards, ethics, morals, and values and even faces harsher consequences.