6.8  Perspectives on Citizenship


A dictionary defines citizen as a "person who is a legal resident of a country". In a democracy, that definition is expanded to mean a person who owes allegiance to a state in which the power is held by the people, and who shares in the political rights of those people.


Many citizens are born into the citizenship of their nation; others choose to become citizens, accepting the rights and responsibilities that come with that citizenship.  About 150 000 people accept Canadian citizenship every year.


Almost every nation in the world has its own constitution that outlines the rights and freedoms of its citizens.

The rights that come with having a Canadian citizenship are clearly defined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and include the fundamental freedoms of conscience and religion; freedom of thought and expression, including freedom of the press and other media; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association. Other rights to which all Canadians are entitled include:

  • democratic rights

  • mobility rights

  • legal rights

  • equality rights

  • language rights

With rights come responsibilities. In a democracy, citizens have chosen to join together in decision making. There is no other power that decides how society should function or how people should behave. That's the job of the people.

Memorial at Runnymede, England the sight of the signing of the Magna Carta by King John in 1215. Many modern constitutions use the right of English citizens contained in this document as the basis for the protection of their citizens.


Responsibilities of Citizenship in Canada


All Canadians have the responsibility to follow Canadian law. As citizens in a democracy, we also have the responsibility to ensure our government represents our interests and views. We can do that by being informed, making our voices heard, making decisions based on knowledge, and participating in the democratic process. Citizens of every nation are part of a larger whole and, therefore, have an important duty to ensure that society operates as well as it can for the benefit of all.

Citizenship in a Democracy


Although citizens elect representatives to perform certain actions, such as creating laws and setting government policies and programs to help their countries function, the real power still rests with the people.

Having that kind of power also involves many obligations. Because citizens share power in a democracy, they also accept responsibilities for creating and maintaining the kind of country that they want. However, because all citizens have their own point of view about what kind of government they want, not everyone in a nation agrees with the decisions of the government.


People have various beliefs about how society should operate. These ideologies are part of their perspective or worldview, and shape the actions they believe are needed for a functioning society. For example, a traditional liberal believes in change, greater individual freedoms, and government intervention in the economy for the good of the people. A traditional conservative believes in slow change and little or no intervention in the economy. A capitalist businessman may want complete freedom to make money however he sees fit; an environmentalist may do everything possible to protect the environment; and a socialist may insist on strong laws to protect workers.

All these legitimate and conflicting perspectives come together in a democracy. As citizens, we have to strive to understand each others' perspectives while also fighting for what we believe is right. Our perspectives influence the actions we take to make society function.