civil duty
Public service requirement
Civil duty refers to obligations citizens have toward their society and government.
Voting, jury service, and paying taxes are standard examples.
The phrase often carries moral weight—a sense that participation in civic life is not just permitted but expected: Every citizen should fulfill their civil duty at the polls.
Compare civic duty, which is essentially synonymous.
- voteFormal choice expression
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
- votingFormally registering a choice
- volunteeringGiving service without pay
- neighborhood watchResident-led area surveillance
environmental stewardship · transparency · accountability · oath · fairness · social justice advocacy · pledge · civic participation · town hall meeting · good citizen · flag · paying taxes · common good · philanthropy · ballot · poll worker · public trust · military conscription
- moral philosophymoral philosophy, moral judgment, moral reasoning, moral principles, moral conduct
- payment obligationspayment, debt payment, obligation, repayment, installment
civil dutyself-interest
Concern for personal advantage
private matter · family obligation · egoism · self-gratification
civil dutypersonal choice
voluntary service · privilege · civil right · entitlement · liberty
civil dutydereliction of duty
Willful failure at responsibilities
civil disobedience · draft dodging · tax evasion · shirking · lawlessness