Citizenship Natural rights do not depend on citizenship Important legal rights do come with citizenship Citizenship = determines nationality and defines who is a member of, owes allegiance to, and is subject of the nation In a constitutional democracy citizenship is an office –Certain powers –Certain responsibilities AMENDMENT XIV 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. Basic right of citizenship first given constitutional protection in 1868 by 14 th Amendment Before that citizenship was left to states

Naturalization Alien – someone living in the United States but is not a citizen Congress determines naturalization requirements –States, federal courts, or USCIS can grant citizenship Requirements for Naturalization 1.Be over 18 2.Be lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence and have resided in the US for at least 5 years and in the state for at least 6 months 3.File a petition of naturalization with a clerk of a court of record (fed or state) verified by two witnesses 4.Be able to read, write, and speak English 5.Possess a good moral character 6.Understand and demonstrate an attachment to the history, principles, and form of government of the US 7.Demonstrate that he or she is well-disposed toward the good order and happiness of the country 8.Demonstrate that he or she does not now believe in, nor within the last ten years has ever believed in, advocated, or belonged to an organization that supports opposition to organized government, overthrow of government by violence, or the doctrines of world communism or any other form of totalitarianism

Rights of US Citizens The legal status of residence is not the same as physical residence Slaughterhouse Cases (1873) –Differentiated between privileges of US citizens and state citizens National citizenship rights are only based on Constitution, federal law, or federal government