Essay Question, PLEASE Help!?

Question

I'm writing a paper on "Liberty under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy" and I am supposed to include that all youth need to understand thier rights and responsibilities under the law to become effective participants in our nation's civic life. I get the rights part, but I'm having trouble addressing the responsibilities part. Partly because I don't know them that well, but also I can't make what I do know flow and sound good in my essay. Can anybody help me?!?

Both your answers are good and they helped a lot, thankyou. But in that light, I can't pick just one as best answer, I hope you understand. I'll let voters decide.

Answer 1

Some responsibilities include...

...being informed. Knowing what's at stake, what the issues are, and not just going into the voting booth and choosing someone 'cause you like the sound of their name,

...voting. You'd be stunned at how few young people bother to register or vote. You can be plenty aware of your rights but it means precious little if you don't show up and exercize them.

...defending your rights. Being informed and being an active voter also means you should stand up if your rights are threatened. That includes protests, or standing up for things like a provisional ballot.

Answer 2

Responsibilites of living in a democracy (republic, more correctly)?

You are responsible to be a productive member of society. You are responisible to provide some public service; in any form you would like. You are responsible to research and vote to send the best, in your opinion, to govern us, and do the will of the people (in theory). You are responsible to be a good neighbor.

Imagine a boat broken down in the water. Imagine that boat is the US. Imagine all our citizens are pulling on the ropes to get that boat back to shore. The idea of our 'democracy' is that everyone pulls their share, everyone shares the burden, everyone shares what is right for us.