What does it mean to be a citizen

What does it mean to be a citizen? Lesson 33

LESSON OBJECTIVES u. When you are finished with this lesson you should be able to: u Explain the mean of the citizenship in the US, the ways Americans can become citizens and why all American citizens are citizens of both their states and the nation. u Identify essential rights and responsibilities of citizens and why citizenship is particularly complicated for Native Americans u Describe the process of naturalization, differences between citizens and resident aliens, and how citizenship can be lost. u Take and defend positions on the legal and moral rights and obligations of citizens.

How Americans have thought of citizenship • Americans have been influenced by classical republicanism and natural rights philosophy. • Americans have a history of being devoted to the common good: • Beginnings of small self contained communities. • Mayflower Compact: “covenant to combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick” • Civic Virtue and public spirit. • John Locke – natural rights theory – is found in the Declaration. • Natural rights theory is different from classical republicanism: • Stress individual rights and interests • Communities protect the individuals who belong to them • Individuals were free to pursue their own interests , as long as they did not interfere with the interests of others. • Founders counted on citizens who were self sufficient and able to meet most of their own needs.

Common Good vs. Self Interest • Adapting the principles of classical republicanism is difficult in a diverse nation. • Can the two coexist? • Founders looked toward two solutions: RELIGION AND EDUCATION • RELIGION: • Held various religious beliefs • Wary of one religion dominating • Believed that religion promoted: moral integrity and civic virtue • Religious instruction helps people learn the importance of obeying authority and participating with others to pursue a common goal. [Group question: Do you think religion does these things? Is it vital to the idea of common good and self interest coexisting? ]

Common Good vs. Self Interest • EDUCATION: • Citizens school in popular sovereignty, limited government, individual rights, and how to exercise the rights responsibly • Public or common schools were to prepare citizens to work in the economy and to exercise their citizenship, committed to the principles of self-government. [Group Discussion question: Do you think public schools today accomplish this purpose? Should they? ]

How did de Tocqueville connect good citizenship with self-interest in the US? • • Democracy in America – He wondered how a country so devoted to materialism and self interest could devote themselves to the common good. He found the answer in the traditions of local self-government: • • • New England townships were classical republicanism in practice. Helped people see both their rights and their duties. Helped people see the importance of volunteering to solve local problems. Believed Americans had found a way to bridge the gap. ENLIGHTENED SELF INTEREST: “An enlightened regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist each other and inclines them willingly to sacrifice a portion of their rime and property to the welfare of the state. ” [GROUP DISCUSSION: CAN SELF INTEREST REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMON GOOD? ] •

HOW HAVE AMERICAN IDEAS CHANGED? • British Subjects • Citizens of particular colonies • After Revolution – citizens of states “countries” • Each state had their own views of citizenship • Voting • Immigration • Residency requirements • Some allowed only free whites • Some viewed Native Americans as foreign • Americans viewed themselves as citizens as states • Difficult to form a unified government. • Members of the Constitutional Convention could not develop a definition of citizenship. • They left the definition of citizenship to the states. • It took a civil war and a Constitutional amendment to put the issue to rest.

th 14 • • • Amendment…. Citizens are citizens of the nation and their states. Jus Soli = Law of the soil = law of the birthplace People born in the US are citizens US Soil = Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands. The conflict of federalism is a continual conflict Finding unity among a diverse set of ideas.

Naturalized Citizens u. Naturalization: The legal process by which a foreign citizen becomes a citizen of the US. u Granted to individuals or entire populations through statute, treaty (Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. u Tied to US immigration policy Only those lawfully admitted can become citizens u ART I give Congress power to establish uniform rules for citizenship. u u Standards for today: 18 years old u Lawfully admitted for permanent residence u Resided continuously for five years u Show good moral character u Demonstrate a belief and commitment to the principles of the US Constitution u Able to read, write, speak and understand words of ordinary usage in the English language u Take the oath of allegiance [Group discussion: What do you think about language requirements? ] u

Native Americans u. Tribes were self governing u. Numbers of Native Americans decreased over time u. US Constitution mentions regulating commerce with foreign nations and Indian Tribes u. Cherokee Nation v. Geogia 1831 the Court defined them as “domestic dependent nations” u 1924 Indian Citizenship Act u Made Native Americans citizens of the US and the states they live in. u Some viewed this act as a reward for heroic service in WWI u Others viewed it as a final act of assimilation.

Native Americans – Dual Citizenship u. Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 – “trust responsibility” for Native Americans and protection for “sovereignty of tribal governments” u. Dual Citizenship: Being a citizen of one or more countries. u. Jus Sanguines = law of the blood = those born to American citizens, even when abroad are citizens. u. US immigration laws do not address dual citizenship. u. It is discouraged due to divided loyalties.

How citizenship can be lost? u. Stripping people of their citizenship is considered a violation of the 8 th amendment. u. Trop v Dulles 1958 equated it to “form of punishment more primitive than torture, for it destroys for the individual the political existence that was centuries in development. ” u. Voluntary Acts may result in a loss of US Citizenship: u Becoming a naturalized citizen of another country u Swearing an oath of allegiance to another country. u Serving in the armed forces of a nation at war with the US u Working for the government of a nation in a capacity that requires becoming a naturalized citizen of that country. u Renouncing citizenship u Being convicted of treason.

Denaturalization Citizens can have the citizenship revoked through denaturalization: • • Fraud – willful misrepresentation when applying for citizenship Legal process – gov has burden of proof – due process is applied

Rights of citizens and permanent aliens u. Permanent aliens can: u Own property u Have a driver’s license u Attend public schools u Join the armed forces u Own firearms u Are protected by the US Constitution u. Cannot u Hold public office [GROUP DISCUSSION: Should resident aliens be allowed to vote? ] Citizens Responsibilities: Perform jury duty and cast informed ballots.