citizenship is a set of civil, political and social rights and duties exercised by citizens who are part of a particular State.
Through citizenship it is allowed, for example, that citizens have the right to freedom, life, equality before the law, the vote, housing, education and health.
See below how we can exercise citizenship.
1. Enlist as a voter
Electronic voting machine used in Brazil (Source: AgenciaBrasil – Author: José Cruz)
According to the Brazilian Federal Constitution, voting is mandatory for literate citizens over 18 and under 70 years of age. 16 and 17 year olds can also vote, but without obligation.
The exercise of the right to vote is an example of citizenship that represents the main one of several forms of political participation that a citizen can have.
By voting, citizens are given the opportunity to contribute to democracy and participate in the country's political decisions.
See the meaning of vote.
2. Practice defensive driving
Traffic is part of a context where it is often necessary to exercise citizenship, either as a pedestrian or as a driver.
The exercise of citizenship implies not only the fulfillment of duties, but also the exercise of rights.
A driver, for example, has a duty to respect traffic signs and signs, as in this way he is helping to preserve the right to the safety of others.
The pedestrian must also respect the signs. Any wrong attitude, such as crossing a road outside the crosswalk, can be detrimental to the life of a driver, for example, who may not have enough time to brake.
A citizen who respects traffic signs, wears a seat belt and crosses the crosswalk is exercising citizenship.
3. collect political promises
In addition to being able to contribute to democracy and have direct participation in the country's political decisions, every citizen can monitor the course of a given candidate's term of office and verify that everything that was promised in the electoral campaign is being fulfilled.
This attitude may represent a struggle for education, health or other rights guaranteed to the population by the Brazilian Federal Constitution.
4. Require fulfillment of services from public bodies
Every citizen has the right to adequate provision of services by agents and public service providers.
This includes equality in the treatment of users (any form of discrimination being prohibited), and the forecast of maximum waiting time for service, among others.
Public services guaranteed to citizens by law include, for example, health and education.
The Brazilian public sector has always suffered from a lack of human resources and material resources, but this does not mean that citizens can claim their rights and demand adequate assistance.
5. respect others
Citizenship encompasses not only rights that citizens have guaranteed by the constitution, but also duties.
These duties include respect for others.
Every citizen must have the good sense to know that if their attitudes imply harm to another citizen, they become disrespectful.
O respect for others is an example of how to exercise citizenship on a daily basis and encompasses equal treatment, regardless of ethnicity, gender, social status or age.
See too: Important moments of citizenship in Brazil
6. Do not destroy public property
Public patrimony consists of assets and rights of artistic, economic, aesthetic, historical or tourist value, belonging to legal entities under public law or for public use.
The Brazilian Federal Constitution establishes that the Public Power and the community must promote and protect the Brazilian heritage through expropriation, inventories, records, registration, surveillance and preservation.
Therefore, it is also a citizen's duty to preserve it.
See the meaning of citizen.
7. Practice giving
The exercise of citizenship also encompasses the acting in society.
Donation, whether of blood, organs, material goods or food, is one of the ways that citizens have to act on behalf of their society.
Thus, there is cooperation with the fight for the right guaranteed by the Brazilian Federal Constitution to all Brazilian citizens, to have, for example, access to health and food.
know more about citizenship.