What responsibilities come with freedom?

Freedom in the United States carries the responsibility to use rights wisely, to respect the rights of others, and to participate in civic life. The Founders viewed liberty and duty as inseparable. James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 55 that as there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government, in their view, depended on virtuous citizens who exercised freedom responsibly.

The responsibilities that accompany freedom are both legal and moral. The legal duties include obeying federal, state, and local laws; paying taxes by April 15 each year; serving on juries when summoned by the courts; registering for Selective Service if a male between eighteen and twenty-five; and supporting and defending the Constitution. Failure to meet these duties carries consequences ranging from fines and contempt of court to disqualification from federal benefits and, in extreme cases, criminal prosecution.

The moral duties are broader. They include respecting the equal rights of others to speak, worship, vote, assemble, and petition; tolerating differences in religion, ethnicity, language, political belief, and lifestyle; staying informed about issues that affect the community and the country; participating in elections, public meetings, school board sessions, and public comment periods; volunteering in the community; and contributing to the common good through public service or charitable giving.

The First Amendment protects free speech, but it does not relieve speakers of moral responsibility for the consequences of their words. The Second Amendment protects firearms ownership, but responsible owners store guns safely, take training, and follow applicable laws. Freedom of association protects the right to join groups, but responsible citizens choose associations that reflect their values without trampling the rights of others.

The reciprocal nature of rights and responsibilities runs through American civic education. The USCIS Citizen's Almanac instructs applicants that their freedoms come with the duty to support the Constitution and laws of the United States. The Pledge of Allegiance commits speakers to one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, an ideal that requires individual effort to sustain. Theodore Roosevelt's 1894 essay True Americanism captured the principle: the man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. Naturalization candidates accept these reciprocal duties at the Oath of Allegiance ceremony, swearing to support and defend the Constitution and to bear true faith and allegiance.