Civic duty

The same norm can support staying informed, serving on a jury, obeying lawful rules, criticizing officials, or defending an opponent's right to participate. It is contribution, not uncritical loyalty.

Because loyalty, enjoyment, influence, and social pressure can produce the same outward act, motive must be measured. Stated reasons, action without private reward, and responses to duty reminders provide useful evidence.

Duty is one motive among several. A person may vote from obligation, expected influence, group loyalty, social pressure, or enjoyment; the observed act does not identify the motive by itself. Survey questions, experiments, and patterns such as participation despite high costs can supply evidence, but socially desirable answers may overstate citizens' sense of obligation. Civic duty is also broader than obedience. Democratic responsibility can include staying informed, serving on a jury, criticizing officials, and defending lawful participation by opponents. The relevant norm is contribution to a functioning constitutional community, not uncritical support for whoever governs. A person who serves on a jury despite inconvenience may be acting from duty even when the service offers no partisan or material reward.

Video lesson: Political Ideology: Crash Course Government and Politics #35