H A N D OU T A

Background Essay: What Does

It Mean To Be a Citizen?
Directions Read the essay and respond to the Review Questions at the end.

What Is a Citizen? must exercise certain knowledge, skills, dispo-

sitions, and virtues in self-government. Among
The term, “citizen” is related to the Latin term,
the many observations of Founders regarding
civitas, meaning “city,” and referred in early
the important role of a citizen are the following:
times to an inhabitant of a city. In modern times
it denotes a legally recognized member of a state ƒ John Adams wrote, “Public virtue cannot
who is entitled to certain rights and bears cer- exist in a nation without private [virtue],
tain responsibilities. In the United States, our and public virtue is the only foundation
understanding of what it means to be a citizen of republics.” John Adams to Mercy Otis
comes from a number of influences that predate Warren, April 16, 1776
the U.S. Constitution, which did not initially
ƒ Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Only a
define citizenship, but left it to each of the states
virtuous people are capable of freedom.
to determine the qualifications for participa-
As nations become more corrupt and
tion in government. To the ancient Greeks, a
vicious, they have more need of masters.”
citizen was a member of the community who
Letter to Messrs, the Abbes Chalut, and
participates in public affairs through informed,
Arnaud, April 17, 1787
reasoned debate and discussion, respectful-
ly considering the views of others. Aristotle ƒ James Madison stated: “To suppose that
taught that a citizen is capable of both ruling any form of government will secure
and being ruled through active participation in liberty or happiness without any virtue
deliberation and decision-making. In the Roman in the people, is a chimerical [imaginary]
Republic, civitas consisted of those city residents idea.” Speech in the Virginia Ratifying
who were educated and had the right to vote and Convention, June 20, 1788
hold office. Ideally, they exercised moderation ƒ Madison also wrote, “As there is a degree
and good judgment by voting for the good of the of depravity in mankind which requires
people, sharing in the rights and responsibilities a certain degree of circumspection and
of self-government. distrust, so there are other qualities in
human nature which justify a certain
Why did the Founders think portion of esteem and confidence.
virtue is necessary? [America’s republican form of
Building on this underpinning, the Founders of government] presupposes the existence
the United States took the position that citizens of these qualities in a higher degree than
any other form.” (Federalist No. 55, 1788).

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ƒƒ Thomas Jefferson wrote: “Convinced expressed through the laws they make for
that the people are the only safe themselves through their representatives. Self-
depositories of their own liberty, and government in civil society depends on certain
that they are not safe unless enlightened attributes of character, but the government
to a certain degree, I have looked on our is not the primary institution responsible for
present state of liberty as a short-lived inculcating those virtues. Rather, generating the
possession unless the mass of the people necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions is
could be informed to a certain degree.” primarily the responsibility of families. The first
Letter to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805 and most powerful influences on character come
from experiences and expectations learned in
Ratified in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment
the family setting. In the endeavor to develop
of the U.S. Constitution provides the legal
decent human beings who know how to work
definition of U.S. citizenship, stating, “All
with one another, solve problems, and resolve
persons born or naturalized in the United
disputes productively, families are supported
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
by private institutions such as religious institu-
are citizens of the United States and the State
tions and civic associations. Government plays a
wherein they reside.” For purposes of this study,
secondary role in encouraging these qualities in
we will use the following description:
a variety of ways, including through its provision
of tax-supported community schools.
A citizen in a free society is a person There are many virtues that contribute to civil
who functions privately and publicly society, but the Founders’ public and private
according to principles of moral and writings tell us that many of them understood
ethical excellence essential to leading at least the following attributes of character
a worthwhile life and to effective self- to be necessary: justice, responsibility,
government. A citizen seeks to be active courage, moderation, respect, initiative,
in public life, demonstrating civic virtues honor, perseverance, self-reliance, and civic
in everyday life and solving community knowledge.
problems. To preserve freedom citizens must first
understand what justice is and have the
courage to assert themselves when their
What virtues are necessary in a free rights or the rights of others are violated. If
individuals are to be free, they must exercise
society, and who is responsible for
self-reliance and responsibility to provide for
cultivating them among the citizens? themselves and their families. They must also
If citizens are to be free, how is it appropriate respect others enough to behave generously
for government to be concerned about charac- when other community members face hardship.
ter formation? What does it mean to be free? Another outgrowth of respect for others is
The Founders believed that all humans are born that individuals exercise moderation in their
with certain natural rights, and that legitimate thoughts and actions in order to listen and
government is based on the will of the people engage in civil discourse. Communities built on

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this foundation also require individuals who included rule of law and due process, the idea
apply initiative to act energetically in solving that government and citizens alike abided by
problems, perseverance because problems the same laws regardless of political power, and
often do not yield to easy solutions, and honor that those laws must reflect the virtue of jus-
so that people can trust one another to do the tice. Because all humans are born with equal
right thing. Civic knowledge is necessary so and inalienable rights, no one is born with a
that people understand their rights and can act natural right to rule over others, so legitimate
with wisdom based on evidence and reason. In government is based on the principle of consent
addition to applying these virtues in their own of the governed. In a large and complex society,
lives, citizens must hold their elected officials the principle of consent is generally expressed
accountable to these standards. Seeking to serve through the principle of republicanism (or
the public in a representative office is a heavy representation) as the people entrust to certain
responsibility, and voters must exercise vigilance elected officials the responsibilities of day-to-
and wisdom as they mark their ballots. day decision-making regarding law and policy.
Because humans are flawed and disposed to in-
What principles guided the crease their own power at the expense of others,
Founders in establishing the Founders believed it is important to preserve
structure of the U.S. Constitution? the principle of limited government through
a complex structure of enumerated, divided,
Based on their long and diligent study of the
shared powers and checks and balances.
kinds of governments that been established in
human history, Founders like James Madison, The Founders knew that the preservation of
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Wilson, liberty would not be easy; it is often difficult for
Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and flawed human beings to engage productively
George Mason, urged that certain principles with one another to live peaceably in community.
must be incorporated in the framework of gov- And they also knew that the American
ernment in order for it to do its main job, which experiment in self-government had no chance to
was protecting the natural rights of the citizens. succeed without these constitutional principles,
Those principles of constitutional government as well as personal and civic virtues.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Using the definitions of “citizen” in the first paragraph of the essay, write your own definition of
what it means to be a citizen.

2. Which of the Founders’ quotes in the second paragraph do you believe is most important for
citizens to understand today? Be prepared to explain your answer.

3. Why do institutions like government, religious institutions, and voluntary organizations play a
secondary, or supporting, role in developing strength of character, compared to the primary role of
family?

4. Of the specific virtues listed in the essay, select the three or four that you think are most important,
and be prepared to explain your opinion.
5. Of the specific principles described in the essay, select one or two that you believe are most
important and be prepared to explain your opinion.

6. Paraphrase and evaluate the following quote from an essay that Samuel Adams wrote at the age of
27 in 1749. Was Adams correct, partially correct, or incorrect? Defend your answer.

“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a
people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his
country who tries most to promote its virtue.” Samuel Adams, Essay in The Public Advertiser, 1749

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