Vote

• No one is going to arrest you if you do not vote, but it is a core expectation of every U.S. citizen. While voting is a civic duty, it is also a privilege. In the beginning of our democracy, only rich, white men had the right to vote. In 1910, the state of Washington granted women the right to vote; other states slowly followed suit, and today women and minorities are allowed to vote in every state of the Union. Citizens are expected to study the issues before going to the polls, so they can cast an informed vote.
  
  

Pay Taxes

• Every citizen must pay state and federal income tax each year they receive income. This money goes toward funding our military and providing social welfare programs. It also pays government officials and reinforces our infrastructure. If you are a sole proprietor, you will need to withhold your own taxes and pay them once per quarter. If you work for an employer, you will receive a W-2 form to help you figure out how much you owe in taxes before the annual deadline of April 15th.
  
  

Comply with The Draft

• All male U.S. citizens over the age of 18 must register with the Selective Service System. In the case of a military crisis, these men must report for duty if they are called upon to fight for their country. The United States prefers not to draft men into the army; most military recruits are voluntary. However, in emergencies, men are selected for service based on a random lottery. Failure to report for military duty is punishable by imprisonment.
  
  

Perform Jury Duty

• Once you are over the 18, you are required by law to serve on a jury if you are called upon by a local or federal court to do so. Twelve jurors are selected per court case, giving these U.S. citizens the sole responsibility of judging their fellow citizens' guilt or innocence in a given matter. Places of business are required by law to excuse employees that have been chosen for jury duty. A nominal amount of money is paid per day by the courthouse to each jury duty member, in order to cover lunch and transportation costs. Once an individual has served on a jury, they cannot be required to do so again for another 12 months.