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Show GOOD CITIZEN Democratic Government Based On Individual Freedom, Dignity This Is the first of a series of 10 articles from the booklet. "Good Cltlten" published by The American Heritage Foundation concerning con-cerning the rights and duties of an American. Composed of leaders In the fields of religion, education. Industry, labor and commerce, the foundation was organized early in 1947 to fight the rising tide of indifference and cynicism toward the privileges and responsibilities of American citizenship. citizen-ship. It is strictly a nonpolltlcal, educational edu-cational organization. It Is not antagonistic an-tagonistic to any group or principles prin-ciples unless those groups or principles prin-ciples are hostile to the dignity and freedom of men. WHETHER YOU all it democracy democ-racy or a Republic, whether you judge its benefits by the car in your garage or by freedom to worship wor-ship at the church of your choice, 5p by the food on TvW, your table or by WS your freedom to yZMX speak out in pub-lie pub-lie without fear, you are living M JJtl under a system Iffll of government it j. 1 based on the dig- jf l nity and freedom "aS-.-of the individual, that derives its powers from the bottom up rather than from the top down. Clearly we must work at democ-lacy democ-lacy to make democracy work we must work for the freedom that works for us. What are your rights as an American Amer-ican citizen? 1. FREEDOM of worship according accord-ing to your conscience. 2. FREEDOM of speech and freedom free-dom of the press, including right to criticize the government and public officials. 3. RIGHT of the people to assemble as-semble peaceably and to petition the government for a redress of grievances fancied or real. 4. THE RIGHT to keep and bear arms. (This means that the people as a whole shall have the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of their country. Their right to carry certain types of weapons for personal use, or to have them in their homes, is frequently limited by various federal, state, and local regulations, such as the Sullivan act in New York state.) 5. PROTECTION of the people against unreasonable search and seizure of person and property by the government without proper authority au-thority and good cause. 6. NO PERSON shall be held to answer for any major crime without with-out review and indictment by a grand jury. 7. NO PERSON shall be placed in jeopardy (indicted, prosecuted or imprisoned) twice for the same crime. 8. NO PERSON shall be compelled com-pelled to act as a witness against himself in any criminal case. 9. IF A PERSON is accused of a crime, he has: the right to a speedy trial; the Tight to the help of a lawyer; the right to trial by a jury, impartially selected; the right to call witnesses in his favor. 10. NO WIFE may be required to testify against her husband (or vice versa) in any criminal proceeding. pro-ceeding. 11. NO PRIVATE property may be taken for public use without just compensation and due process of law. 12. EXCESSIVE baU shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, im-posed, nor cruel and unusual punishments pun-ishments inflicted. 13. A PERSON is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. 14. THE RIGHT to vote, secretly, secret-ly, for anyone you want. (The constitution con-stitution protects you against abridgement of this right. The specific right, however, is granted by the various states.) 15. FREEDOM of person, under the protection of habeas -corpus, which gives any person who claims to be unlawfully held by an officer or private person the right to have a hearing at once so that he may know the reason why he is being held. (This means that the government govern-ment of the United States cannot secretly, or openly for that matter, arrest persons as individuals or groups, throw them into prison or concentration camps, hold them there indefinitely and do what it pleases to them.) 16. NO "EX POST FACTO" law can be passed. (This means that in our daily living and thinking we can enjoy the liberty of doing and saying all that the existing law permits. per-mits. Even if, at a later date, our government makes these things illegal, il-legal, it cannot "date back" the law to make illegal anything that was done before the law was passed.) This article Is the introduction of the booklet "Good Citizen," produced pro-duced by The American Heritage Foundation, sponsors of the freedom free-dom train. A complete book may be obtained by sending 25 cents to The American Heritage Foundation, Founda-tion, 17 East 4Mh Street, New York, N. T. |