Understanding Citizenship Diggs & Foster

Bellwork12/1 & 12/2 Directions: Write your answer on your post-it, then stick it on the white board. What does it mean to be a member of something? Directions: Write your answer on your post-it, then stick it on the white board. What does it mean to be a member of something?

Being a Citizen of the USA means that we are “members” of this country. What does this have to do with citizenship?

What does this image represent? What does this image have to do with US citizenship? Passports are only issued to U.S. citizens (a privilege of citizenship) and must be carried when outside the U.S. to prove one’s American citizenship Passports are only issued to U.S. citizens (a privilege of citizenship) and must be carried when outside the U.S. to prove one’s American citizenship

What does this image represent? What does this image have to do with US citizenship? The Statue of Liberty symbolizes U.S. citizenship for Americans and people around the world. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes U.S. citizenship for Americans and people around the world.

What does this image represent? What does this image have to do with US citizenship? This image is from a naturalization ceremony, where legal immigrants officially become U.S. citizens This image is from a naturalization ceremony, where legal immigrants officially become U.S. citizens

Citizenship Video Clip

Now, write your own definition of “Citizen” in your spirals.

Definition of Citizenship: To be a member of a nation or country, and to have full rights and responsibilities under the law.

14 th Amendment; Section 1 “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

14 th Amendment; Section 1 Explained The 14th Amendment is a very important amendment that defines what it means to be a U.S. citizen and protects certain rights of the people. The Citizenship Clause gives individuals born in the United States – but especially at that time, African Americans – the right to citizenship. Before the 14 th amendment, African Americans could not become citizens, and this limited the rights of those who were able to escape slavery and become free. This clause allows all people born in the United States to be U.S. citizens. Once you have American citizenship, it cannot be taken from you by Congress or other authorities, unless you lie to the government during the process to get U.S. citizenship. Otherwise, everyone who becomes an American citizen stays an American citizen, unless they give it up themselves

Read the1st Paragraph of the “Citizenship: Just the Facts” Worksheet

What are the 3 ways you can become a citizen of the USA? #1: Born in the USA #3: Naturalization #2: Parents who are US Citizens - AKA “Law of Soil” - Being born to a mother who is also a US citizen is AKA “Law of Blood” Allows immigrants to become US citizens

Immigrants, residents and aliens Immigrants Person who comes to a country to live there permanently Aliens Person who comes to a country temporarily (usually for a job or visiting for a certain period of time) Legal Permanent Resident Person who is permanently living in the US legally but is not a citizen yet

What does it mean to be a resident? A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long- term basis.

You would go through the naturalization process if you were an immigrant who wanted to become a resident.

Immigration Video Clip

Read the 2nd Paragraph and summarize the Naturalization Process

Immigrants seeking to become naturalized citizens, one must meet the following conditions:  The person is over 18 years old  Must have been a resident of the United States for five years, without leaving for more than 30 months combined and for no more than 12 consecutive months throughout the five-year period.  Must file a petition for naturalization  Must take an examination that shows that they can read, speak and write English, and demonstrate knowledge of American history and the U.S. Constitution.  Must be able to prove that they are of good moral character  Two U.S. citizens must confirm that the citizenship applicant will be a good citizen and will be loyal to the U.S.  The person is over 18 years old  Must have been a resident of the United States for five years, without leaving for more than 30 months combined and for no more than 12 consecutive months throughout the five-year period.  Must file a petition for naturalization  Must take an examination that shows that they can read, speak and write English, and demonstrate knowledge of American history and the U.S. Constitution.  Must be able to prove that they are of good moral character  Two U.S. citizens must confirm that the citizenship applicant will be a good citizen and will be loyal to the U.S.

One more thing! The Oath of Allegiance “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

Citing from the text, how would you explain the Oath of Allegiance in your own words? Write your answer in your spiral in at least 3 sentences.

Why do you think that the Oath is part of the Naturalization process?