Your Civil Responsibilities

As a citizen, you have a number of different civic responsibilities. Some of them include voting, reporting income to the IRS, and serving on statutory boards and committees. Whether you are young or old, you should be aware of and practice these responsibilities. Below is a list of the different kinds of civic obligations.


Voting is a civic duty
The concept of voting is rooted in our civic duty to elect our representatives. In a message released Thursday, the Permanent Committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference reiterated the value of voting. It urged voters to exercise their civic responsibility in a manner that benefits the common good.

Reporting income to the IRS
If you have any income that is subject to income tax, you must report it to the IRS. But not all income is taxable, and there are some exceptions. For instance, if you receive payments from a nonprofit organization for a charitable purpose, the organization may not have to report the payments.

Serving on statutory boards
In most cases, Board members are appointed by the Scottish Ministers, but some have a mix of directly elected members and local authority nominated members. This is usually specified in the public body's enabling legislation and aims to ensure that the Board has a balanced local and national representation. In addition, members of the Board are expected to follow any Code of Conduct adopted by the public body.

Showing respect as well as dissent for laws
Providing respect as well as dissent to laws is an important part of the development of a legal system. Without dissenting opinions, a law cannot develop efficiently or effectively. Judges must be allowed to express their views, and there is no shame in doing so. In fact, dissenting judgments often contain a seed of new thought that can lead to a new approach to law.

Getting involved in your community
Getting involved in your community is a great way to give back to the people who live in your area. It can be as simple as organizing a charity event in your neighborhood or donating to an organization. Some organizations even offer matching gifts for people who donate money or goods. Find out what your local organization needs to succeed and how you can contribute to their cause.