ss: sec3: chap 1: what does it mean for me to be a citizen of my country

what shapes citizenship? and ways

• legal status - through ways such as birth, descent, marriage and naturalisation. being citizen means that one has rights and obligations

• sense of identity - through a shared belief of connectedness to one another and belonging to the country

• shared values - such as history, heritage and experiences

• civic participation - where citizens actively take part in public affairs as individuals or as community groups

definition of legal status

• a person’s is officially a citizen of a country as defined by the law

• 4 ways people granted citizenship: born in the country, descent, marriage, naturalisation

• laws also set the rights and obligations of a country’s citizens

definition and examples of rights

• refer to the freedom and priviledges that citizens in a country have. They are laid out in the constituition, protected by law and are respected by everyone in the country

• one eg: no citizen of sg will be discriminated against when it comes to receiving education

• second eg: freedom to practise their religion. everyone is entitled to equal protection by law

definition and examples of obligations

• are duties that citizens have to fulfil by being members of the country

• one eg: the obligation of male citizens to serve National Service (NS) in sg

• second eg: obey the law, eg, wearing mask during Covid-19

how legal status shape citizenship

• one’s interpretation of their rights and obligations as a citizen will shape how they understand citizenship.

• for instance, while having a legal status grants citizens their constituitional rights, citizens with deeper understanding would be able to exercise their rights responsibly

definition of sense of identity

• a national identity comes from a shared belief of connectedness to one another and belonging to the country

• people develop a national identity when they share common spaces, practices and experiences

example of sense of identity

• sgreans consider hawker centres as important common spaces that represent sg’s multicultural heritage. In 2019, many sgreans, including those who live abroad, pledged their support for the country’s nomination of its hawker culture to UNESO

• speaking singlish

• supporting our national athletes

how does sense of identity shape citizenship

• if one has a strong sense of identity towards the country, they would be more willing to contribute positively to the country and vice-versa

definition of shared values

• embraced and seen as important by a group of people

• represent what is important to people and help them prioritise, make decisions and exercise judgement

examples of shared values

• one eg: value of multiculturalism. sgreans generally believe in living in harmony in a multiracial and multireligious society

• second eg: caring for elderly

• third eg: helping neighbours

how do shared values shape citizenship

having shared values such as multiculturalism, help citizens feel they share something in common with one another, helping them feel a sense of connectedness with one another. —> which strengthens citizens sense of identity towards the country. It can influence the way people behave as citizens. when citizens believe in something, they will take action to bring about a better society

definition of civic participation

• actively taking part in public affairs

• they want to address societal issues or help certain group in the country

examples on participating as individuals

• individuals volunteer their time, effort and money in matters they are concerned about.

• one eg: Mr Andy Teo initiated the Temporary Academic Assistance to connect volunteer tutors with students who were struggling with home-based learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. In just a week, 250 volunteered to serve

• second eg: Riqmah Kindness Corner. Norhasyimah and Fariq founded the Riqmah kindness corner to meet the needs of people around them. it provides groceries to citizens who are less fortunate

example for participating as informal community groups

• address a specific concern, exist for the government.

• one eg: Mr Nigel Teo started a mobile application called GoodHood.SG, where Singaporeans could connect meaningfully with their neighbours by asking for or offering help

examples for formal community groups

• have clear objectives, exist for a sustained period of time, and are officially registered with the government.

• one eg: NGO is a zero waste sg which engages the public, companies, schools and government agencies to protect the environment

how does civic participation shape citizenship

citizens who view civic participation as an important obligation may actively try to find ways to meet the needs of follow citizens. this increases contribution to the good of the country