Citizenship

Unit One: Citizenship - Notes

American Population Then & Now

Late 1700s
Less than 4 Million People
Colonization people were immigrating here during that time

Today
Nearly 360 Million

What caused this growth?

Immigration: moving to another country
Many come from Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada, & Mexico

Birthrate

What is a citizen?
Citizen:
A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized. An inhabitant of a particular town or city.

There are two ways to become a citizen:

Be Born into citizenship
Born on US Grounds in one of the states, on US Military Base.

Naturalization
Process of becoming a US Citizen

Naturalization Process
There are 5 requirements to become a citizen through naturalization
File an intent form
Why are you coming to America? What could you offer?

Live in the U.S. for 5 Years

If your spouse is a U.S. Citizen only 3 years

Be 18 Years Old Take Naturalization Test Take citizenship oath

"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."

Legal Aliens
Immigrant
They have written permission to be in the U.S.
Visa/Green Card formal permission for a non-citizen to be in a nation

Cannot vote or hold public office Same legal rights as citizens

Illegal Aliens
Cannot do anything legally in the U.S.
Vote Hold office Work

Can be deported if found

Deportation: the process of being expelled from a nation