Becoming a Citizen:How does a person become a citizen of

the United States?

What is Civics?

Citizens

Definition: Members of a community who

owe loyalty to a government and, in turn, are entitled to

the protection of that government

Civics

Definition: The study of the duties and rights of citizens

The Founding Fathers of the United States believed strongly in the value of civics

How can YOU stay informed?

Roots of Citizenship

• Dates back 2,500 years to ancient Greece and Rome

• Gave people legal rights and allowed them to take part in government– Property-owning men

only!– Paid taxes – Served in the military

Revolutionary Thinkers

• 1700s – Prior to the Revolutionary War, America and France tweaked the “ancient” definitions of democracy– Defined citizens as “people

belonging to a nation”– The power of the

government comes directly from the people being governed

Limitations to Citizenship

• Originally limited to white men only

• African Americans legalized as citizens by the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868

Dred Scott v. Sandford

• Before the Civil War, Americans were asking: Are African Americans citizens of the United States? May Congress prohibit enslavement of African Americans in U.S. territories?

• Case study p. 61

Reversing Limits

Women gained the right to

vote in 1920 with the

Nineteenth Amendment

The 1924 Indian Citizenship

Act gave American Indians

the right to legal citizenship

Natural-Born Citizens

• Any person born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

• Children born on American soil to people who are not U.S. citizens

• Any person born in an American territory– Puerto Rico– U.S. military bases (overseas)

Special Circumstances

• A person born in another country can claim U.S. citizenship if:– Both parents are U.S. citizens– One parent is a U.S. citizen who has lived in

the United States

• Dual Citizenship– A U.S. citizen born in another country may

hold dual citizenship of both the U.S. and the country in which he/she was born

Naturalized Citizens

• Naturalization – the legal process of obtaining citizenship– More than 40% of

immigrants have become naturalized citizens

• Requirements:– Must be 18 or older– Must have been a lawful

permanent resident for at least 5 years

– Must be able to read, write, and speak English

– Must be of good moral character

– Must show an understanding of U.S. civics

– Must complete application process and pass an exam

Losing Citizenship

• Expatriation– Someone who gives his/her allegiance to a

foreign country

• Denaturalization– Naturalized citizens who are found to have

lied on their citizenship application

• Being convicted of certain crimes– Treason, rebellion, trying to overthrow the

government

Foreign-Born Residents

• Aliens – foreign-born residents who have not been naturalized– Legal Aliens

• Resident alien – legal immigrant who permanently lives in the U.S.

• Nonresident alien – someone who expects to stay in the U.S. for a short, specified period of time

• May own property, attend public schools, pay taxes, receive services, and hold jobs

• Can NOT vote, serve on juries, or run for political office

Refugees

• A refugee is someone who flees his/her country to escape danger– Persecution by the government

• Political refugee• Granted protection upon proof of danger

– Natural disaster– War

Illegal Aliens

• U.S. limits legal immigrants to 1 million each year– Relatives of U.S. citizens have highest priority– Also ranked by job skill supply & demand

• Each year, 1 million more enter the U.S. illegally!– Some attempted legally but were refused– Some stay longer than permits allow– Others cross borders illegally

Results?

• Illegal aliens can be arrested and deported back to home country

• More than 12 million are living in the U.S. illegally today