The Meaning The Meaning of of

CitizenshipCitizenshipChapter 3Chapter 3

What is a Citizen?What is a Citizen?

• A A CITIZENCITIZEN is a person with certain is a person with certain rights and duties under a rights and duties under a government.government.

• We each have We each have certain rights and certain rights and dutiesduties..– Have a right to express an opinionHave a right to express an opinion– Right to protection under the lawRight to protection under the law– Duty to obey the law Duty to obey the law – Duty to pay taxesDuty to pay taxes

Who is a Citizen?Who is a Citizen?

The Constitution says it isThe Constitution says it is

““A person who by birth or A person who by birth or choice owes allegiance to choice owes allegiance to

the United States”the United States”..

You are aYou are aLegal American CitizenLegal American Citizen if if

1.1. You were You were born in the USborn in the US or in one of or in one of it’s territories. (Even if your parents it’s territories. (Even if your parents aren’t citizens, unless they are aren’t citizens, unless they are representatives from a foreign country.)representatives from a foreign country.)

2.2. One of your parents was a US citizenOne of your parents was a US citizen - (it doesn’t matter where you were - (it doesn’t matter where you were born)born)

3.3. You were You were less than 18 when your less than 18 when your parents were naturalizedparents were naturalized..

4.4. You have been You have been NATURALIZEDNATURALIZED

A Naturalized Citizen A Naturalized Citizen

• Has gone through the Has gone through the process of becoming a process of becoming a citizencitizen. .

• This process includes:This process includes:– learning Englishlearning English– studying American Historystudying American History– Learning the values, laws, Learning the values, laws,

rights and duties of Citizenrights and duties of Citizen

Rights of Naturalized Rights of Naturalized CitizensCitizens

All the rights of citizens by birth All the rights of citizens by birth BUT they BUT they can’t be PRESIDENTcan’t be PRESIDENT

Can citizenship be taken Can citizenship be taken away?away?

Once a citizen, always a citizen Once a citizen, always a citizen – except in two cases– except in two cases. .

1.1. You can choose to You can choose to give up give up citizenshipcitizenship to become a to become a citizen in another country. citizen in another country.

2.2. Citizenship can be Citizenship can be taken away taken away for trying to overthrow the for trying to overthrow the governmentgovernment by force. by force.

What is an Alien?What is an Alien?

An An ALIENALIEN is a is a citizen of one citizen of one country who lives country who lives in another.in another. Today we refer Today we refer

to someone to someone living in the living in the

United States United States from another from another country as an country as an

““Undocumented Undocumented WorkerWorker” or an ” or an

“Undocumented “Undocumented Immigrant”.Immigrant”.

Office of CitizenOffice of Citizen

• What does it mean to What does it mean to say there is an “say there is an “Office Office of Citizen”?of Citizen”?– EEach citizen holds a ach citizen holds a

position of authority. position of authority. – Our government can Our government can

operate – make operate – make laws, build roads, laws, build roads, collect taxes, sign collect taxes, sign treaties – only if treaties – only if citizens want it to.citizens want it to.

Consent of the GovernedConsent of the Governed

The power of the The power of the government is based government is based on THE CONSENT on THE CONSENT

OF THE GOVERNED. OF THE GOVERNED.

Citizens have the Citizens have the power to decide what power to decide what the government will the government will

and will not do.and will not do.

REPRESENTATIVESREPRESENTATIVES

• People who are chosen to speak People who are chosen to speak and act for their fellow citizens in and act for their fellow citizens in government.government. – (Congress, Representatives, President, City (Congress, Representatives, President, City

Council)Council)

Office of the CitizenOffice of the Citizen

• We delegate or lend our power to We delegate or lend our power to them. The real power belongs to us. them. The real power belongs to us.

• As citizens, we can vote a person As citizens, we can vote a person out of office. It is because of this, out of office. It is because of this, that each citizen holds an officethat each citizen holds an office – – “the “the OFFICE OF THE CITIZENOFFICE OF THE CITIZEN”.”.

Abe LincolnAbe Lincoln

Ours is a government, of the people, by Ours is a government, of the people, by the people and for the people.the people and for the people.