• 48 strips
  • Checked October 2026

Citizenship Comic Strip Ideas

One comic strip per press about a citizen's rights, duties or ways of taking part, at school and at home.

Citizenship Comic Strip Ideas

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  1. A school election from sign-up to handshake1. Candidates sign up.2. Speeches, one promise each.3. Secret ballots go into a box.4. Two students count and a third checks.5. The loser shakes the winner's hand.

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Rights 16

  • A friend stands beside the accused 1. A shy kid is blamed for the spilled paint. 2. A friend steps up beside him: "I'll help you tell it." 3. Together they explain. Fact: The Sixth Amendment gives the accused "the Assistance of Counsel for his defence".
  • A jury of friends hears the case of the missing cookies 1. The cookie jar is empty and the dog looks guilty. 2. The dog gets a hearing, held the same afternoon with the door open. 3. A jury of friends who saw nothing listens to both sides. 4. Verdict: the crumbs lead to somebody's little brother. Fact: The Sixth Amendment promises "a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury".
  • A list of rights that is more than two hundred years old 1. 1789: Congress proposes twelve amendments. 2. December 15, 1791: ten of them are ratified. 3. Today: a kid reads the same ten on a classroom poster. Fact: Those ten amendments are the Bill of Rights.
  • A passport and a lost suitcase 1. A family opens a brand-new passport. 2. An airport far from home, and a suitcase that never arrives. 3. An office abroad with a flag outside helps them sort it out. Fact: A U.S. passport lets a citizen get assistance from the U.S. government when overseas, if necessary.
  • The class votes to ban dinosaur talk 1. A class vote: "No more talking about dinosaurs." It passes. 2. The teacher points to the rights poster on the wall. 3. The dinosaur fan carries on, a little more quietly. Fact: The First Amendment says Congress shall make no law "abridging the freedom of speech".
  • Folding chairs on the town green 1. A notice: "Meeting about the dark corner, Saturday, on the green." 2. Thirty neighbors gather with folding chairs. 3. They agree on what to ask the town for. Fact: The First Amendment protects "the right of the people peaceably to assemble".
  • Hear her side before deciding 1. A window is broken, and everyone looks at the kid holding the ball. 2. "Wait. Let her tell what happened." 3. Her account: the wind slammed the shutter. Fact: The Fifth Amendment says no person shall be deprived of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law".
  • The job notice that asks for citizenship 1. A board full of job notices. 2. One, for a government agency, says citizens only. 3. A new citizen reads it and writes down the number. Fact: Certain jobs with government agencies require U.S. citizenship.
  • One ballot still at the water fountain 1. Class election: the count is tied. 2. One student is still at the water fountain. 3. She drops her ballot in the box. 4. The winner is ahead by one. Fact: The right to vote in elections for public officials is on the list of citizens' rights.
  • The quiet kid runs for class treasurer 1. A quiet student signs up to run for class treasurer. 2. Her poster makes one promise: "I will count twice." 3. She wins. Fact: The right to run for elected office is on the list of citizens' rights.
  • Three doors with ages on them 1. A door marked House: 25. 2. A door marked Senate: 30. 3. A door marked President: 35. A kid checks her height against each. Fact: The Constitution sets those minimum ages for a Representative, a Senator and the President.
  • Three kids choose three futures 1. One wants to be a baker. 2. One wants to study frogs. 3. One has not decided, and that is allowed too. Fact: The list of citizens' rights ends with the freedom to pursue "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
  • Three neighbors, three different weekends 1. One family walks to a service on Friday evening. 2. One family drives to a service on Sunday morning. 3. One family goes fishing. All three wave across the fence. Fact: Freedom to worship as you wish is on the list of citizens' rights.
  • The town paper prints the story of the broken fountain 1. The town paper prints a story about the broken fountain in the park. 2. Some readers grumble. The story stays in print. 3. The fountain is mended. Fact: The First Amendment protects the freedom "of the press".
  • Two dates circled on one calendar 1. A teenager circles her eighteenth birthday. 2. Under it she circles Election Day. 3. The birthday comes first, by one day. Fact: A citizen who is 18 years old on or before Election Day can vote.
  • Two opinions about the cafeteria soup 1. A student stands up at lunch: "This soup is terrible." 2. Another stands up: "I love this soup." 3. The cook listens to both, and nobody is in trouble. Fact: Freedom to express yourself is the first right on the list from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Duties 16

  • A coin with a right on one side 1. Heads: the right to a trial by jury. 2. Tails: serving on a jury when called. 3. A kid flips it and sees there is no coin with one side. Fact: Only U.S. citizens can serve on a federal jury.
  • A red light at midnight with nobody watching 1. Midnight: a red light at an empty crossing. 2. A cyclist stops and waits. 3. The only witness is an owl. Fact: Respecting and obeying federal, state and local laws is on the list of responsibilities.
  • A voter who knows no names on the ballot 1. A voter looks at a sample ballot and knows none of the names. 2. She reads the voter guide at the kitchen table. 3. On Election Day she is ready for every line. Fact: Sample ballots and voter guides include the candidates and the issues up for a vote.
  • An envelope from the court 1. An envelope from the court lands on the mat. 2. Dad groans, then reads it properly. 3. At the courthouse he listens all day. 4. At dinner he explains: the jury decided the facts, and the judge explained the law. Fact: Courts randomly select eligible citizens for possible jury service.
  • Are you registered? 1. A new voter is excited about Election Day. 2. A friend asks: "Are you registered?" 3. She looks up her state's deadline and signs the form in time. Fact: Voters must register by their state's deadline. North Dakota does not require registration.
  • The class constitution holds for the popular kid too 1. A class writes its own rules and everyone signs. 2. The most popular kid breaks one. 3. The class decides the rule holds for everyone. 4. The paper goes back up on the wall. Fact: "Support and defend the Constitution" is the first responsibility on the list.
  • The drummer and the sleeping baby 1. A kid practices the drums in her room. 2. Next door a baby has finally fallen asleep. 3. She carries the drums to the garage and shuts the door. Fact: The list calls its rights and responsibilities things all citizens should exercise and respect.
  • The lemonade stand keeps a second envelope 1. The lemonade stand makes its first sale. 2. Next to the cashbox sits a second envelope marked taxes. 3. When the bill is due, the envelope is ready, and on time. Fact: Paying taxes honestly and on time to federal, state and local authorities is on the list of responsibilities.
  • Must or should? Sorting the list 1. A kid sorts cards into two piles: must and should. 2. Must: obey the law and pay taxes. 3. Should: stay informed, take part, help the community. 4. She tapes both piles to one poster.
  • The neighbor's sidewalk 1. Snow fell overnight. 2. A kid shovels her own walk, then looks at the walk next door, where an old neighbor lives. 3. She keeps shoveling. Fact: Some responsibilities on the list are legally required of every citizen, but all are called important.
  • The park after the storm 1. Friday: a park full of fallen branches. 2. Saturday: neighbors with rakes and bags. 3. Sunday: kids on the swings again. Fact: Participating in your local community is on the list of responsibilities.
  • The pizza topping debate 1. Two friends disagree, loudly, about pineapple. 2. Each lets the other finish. 3. They order half and half. Fact: Respecting the rights, beliefs and opinions of others is on the list of responsibilities.
  • The rule-maker goes to the back of the line 1. The class president makes a rule: no cutting the lunch line. 2. Next day she is late and eyes the front of the line. 3. She walks to the back. Fact: The Constitution divides the federal government into three branches so that no individual or group will have too much power.
  • Three names on the fridge 1. A kid asks at dinner who represents the family. Nobody at the table knows. 2. They look it up: local, state and federal. 3. Three names go up on the fridge. Fact: Staying informed of the issues affecting your community is on the list of responsibilities.
  • Three strangers from one street 1. The same envelope arrives for a nurse, a bus driver and a grandmother on one street. 2. None of them knows the others were picked. 3. They meet in the jury room. Fact: Most U.S. citizens who are 18 or older may serve on a federal jury.
  • The voters who stayed outside 1. A class votes on the field trip: zoo or museum. 2. Five zoo fans skip the vote to stay out at recess. 3. The museum wins by three. Fact: Participating in the democratic process is on the list of responsibilities.

Taking part 16

  • A first vote 1. A first-time voter looks up her polling place and its hours. 2. She joins the line outside the school gym. 3. A booth, a ballot and a pen. 4. She walks out a little taller. Fact: Your polling place is where you go to vote in local, state and federal elections.
  • A letter about the broken swing 1. The swing in the park has been broken since spring. 2. A class writes to the city council. 3. A reply comes, with a date in it. 4. On that date a truck pulls up. Fact: USA.gov gives contact information for city, county and town officials.
  • A question at the town council meeting 1. A family goes to watch a town council meeting. 2. The council argues about a parking lot for an hour. 3. When the public may speak, a kid asks about bike racks.
  • A rule nobody likes and how it gets changed 1. The rule: no balls at recess. 2. Grumbling changes nothing. 3. Students write a better rule and collect signatures. 4. They take it to the student council, which votes. 5. The new rule: balls on the far field only. Fact: The First Amendment protects the right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".
  • A school election from sign-up to handshake 1. Candidates sign up. 2. Speeches, one promise each. 3. Secret ballots go into a box. 4. Two students count and a third checks. 5. The loser shakes the winner's hand.
  • An envelope that crosses an ocean to be counted 1. A cousin who works overseas marks her ballot at a kitchen table far from home. 2. The envelope crosses an ocean. 3. It is counted at home with the rest. Fact: U.S. citizens living outside the United States can vote.
  • Candidates' night at the library 1. Two candidates for the school board share a stage. 2. A kid asks about library hours. 3. Both answer, and the audience takes notes. Fact: Reviewing voter guides before going to the polls can help you decide who to vote for.
  • Count it twice 1. The count: 12 to 11. 2. The losing side asks for a recount, and nobody objects. 3. Counted again in front of everyone: 12 to 11.
  • The day after the election 1. Results on the board: one side cheers, one side sighs. 2. The losing side takes down its posters. 3. Both sides turn up for the first meeting.
  • The litter patrol starts with two 1. Two kids pick up litter on their street. 2. They pin up a sign-up sheet. 3. By spring there are twelve of them and a wagon.
  • The missing stop sign: who do you ask? 1. A stop sign is missing from the corner. Whose job is it? 2. Not the president's. 3. Not the governor's. 4. The class finds the right office at city hall and writes. Fact: People are represented at the federal, state and local levels.
  • The neighbor with the flash cards 1. A neighbor studies the Constitution at her kitchen table with flash cards. 2. She passes the citizenship test. 3. At the ceremony the whole street fills the back row. Fact: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day recognizes those who have become U.S. citizens.
  • The quietest corner of the class meeting 1. A class meeting: the loudest three speak first. 2. The chair passes a talking stick around the whole circle. 3. The best idea comes from the quietest corner.
  • September 17 in two centuries 1. September 17, 1787: delegates meet for the last time to sign the Constitution. 2. September 17 today: a class reads its first three words aloud. 3. "We the People." Then they sign their own class rules. Fact: September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
  • Three branches at the dinner table 1. One sibling makes the rule: dishes before games. 2. One carries it out, timer in hand. 3. One settles the argument about whether a spoon counts. Fact: The Constitution divides the federal government into legislative, executive and judicial branches.
  • Three circles on the calendar 1. A kid thinks voting happens once every four years. 2. Her aunt circles a local election, a state election and a federal one. 3. Three circles, all in the same year. Fact: The dates of elections can vary for federal, state and local representatives.

How it works

These citizenship comic strip ideas turn a civics unit into scenes a class knows: an election decided by one ballot, a jury of friends, a rule nobody likes and how it gets changed. They follow United States civics.

Read the full guide

Rights, duties and taking part

Rights are what a citizen may do, duties are what a citizen owes, and taking part is the doing: a vote, a petition, a letter to the council, a morning raking the park. A strip of 3 panels carries one idea; longer ones follow something through, such as an election, a hearing or a petition.

  • Keep signs and banners blank, or give them a made-up cause such as balls at recess.
  • Use the same class in every strip. Four or five characters are enough for an election, a jury and a petition.
  • If your class studies another country's civics, keep the story and change the Fact line.

Questions and answers

How do you make a comic strip about citizenship?

Choose one right or one duty and set it somewhere you know. A class vote shows the right to vote, a hearing for a blamed friend shows a fair trial, and a signed petition shows how a rule gets changed.

What are the rights and responsibilities of a citizen?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services lists rights that include free expression, worship, a fair trial by jury, voting and running for office. Its responsibilities include obeying laws, paying taxes on time and serving on a jury when called.

What does it mean to be a good citizen?

On the U.S. government's list of a citizen's responsibilities it is more than following laws: staying informed about your community, respecting the rights, beliefs and opinions of others, and participating where you live.

How old do you have to be to vote in the United States?

A citizen who is 18 years old on or before Election Day can vote. The Twenty-sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, protects that right for citizens of eighteen or older.

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