 Constitution and Rights Constitution A constitution is a document of laws that a country follows. The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787 to replace the laws created after the American Revolution. Democracy A democracy is a type of government where the leaders are chosen by the people. The government of the United States is a democracy. Rules Rules are written or unwritten guidelines that people follow. Rules tell you what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do. Laws Laws are the written rules that everyone in a country must follow. In the United States, the laws that the country follows are found in the Constitution. Human rights Human rights are things that everyone is allowed to have or do. Human rights include access to education and freedom from discrimination and slavery. Citizen A citizen is a person who is a legal member of a country. People are citizens of the country they were born in. Citizens have certain rights, like the right to vote. Citizenship Citizenship means that you are a citizen of a country. Immigrants to the United States are able to apply for citizenship if they meet the requirements. Civic activities Events that you participate in as part of a community are civic activities. Examples of civic activities are volunteering at your children's school or in your community. Pathway The steps you take to meet a goal are called a pathway. Students entering college choose an educational pathway that will lead to a career. Wants Wants are things you would like to have but are not necessary for you to live. For example, you may want a new car or a new computer, but you will be okay without one. Needs Needs are the things that you need to live. Food, power, and water are examples of needs. Your needs are more important than your wants. Amendment A change to a document is called an amendment. The U.S. Constitution has 33 amendments. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. The End