{"id":357672,"date":"2021-06-30T15:35:13","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T20:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civic-engagement\/what-makes-a-good-citizen.html"},"modified":"2021-06-30T15:35:13","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T20:35:13","slug":"what-makes-a-good-citizen","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civic-engagement\/what-makes-a-good-citizen.html","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a Good Citizen?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Makes a Good Citizen?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Andrew Leonatti<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A good citizen understands how their government works and actively participates in their community with respect, patience, and a willingness to engage across differences. Effective citizenship also relies on \u201csoft skills\u201d like media literacy, compromise, and persistence, which help people advocate constructively and contribute to the public good.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Civic engagement occurs whenever an individual or a group addresses an issue that matters to the public. Whether it’s advocating for change or preserving the status quo, civic engagement is simply making your voice heard on an issue that affects your community.<\/p>\n

This article will help you explore the various ways that you can civically engage. You’ll also learn the baseline skills that are helpful to have to be more active in your community.<\/p>\n

An Understanding of ‘Civics’<\/h2>\n

Here, we don’t just mean the definition above. Instead, we’re referring to the subject of the class that the vast majority of American high schoolers take in the ninth grade. For most, this class focuses on the nuts and bolts of American democracy:<\/p>\n