Being an American citizen means… LESSON 2 Rights and Responsibilities of the American Citizen

How do we determine citizenship in the United States? WHO IS A CITIZEN? Citizenship by birthright Location of birth: Everyone born in US is granted citizenship Law of blood relation: Child born on foreign soil becomes a citizen if one parent is an American citizen

How do we determine citizenship in the United States? Citizenship by government action Dred Scott v. Sandford(1857): Established property status for slaves, denying them right to sue

How do we determine citizenship in the United States? Citizenship by choice (NATURALIZATION) Act of Congress  Hawaiians granted citizenship in 1959 after annexation Citizenship granted through treaty agreement (ex: Louisiana Purchase, Alaska) Individual action Must enter US by legal means Live in America for at least 5 years Must demonstrate an understanding of basic English Must understand the concepts and framework of US government

What do we expect from citizens in the United States? RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITIZEN Bill of Rights Voting Defending civil rights Paying taxes Attending school Defending the nation Serving on a jury or as a witness Contributing to well-being of society  participation in democracy

Can anyone successfully lose their citizenship? LOSING CITIZENSHIP EXPATRIATION: Banishment from one’s own country and stripping of citizenship  deportation TREASON: Crime against nation can revoke citizenship DENATURALIZATION: Renouncement of citizenship if… It was obtained through illegal means (ex: forgery) If you join a subversive group (ex: Al Qaeda)

Immigrant, or alien? DETERMINING IMMIGRATION STATUS Aliens: Aliens are people who have left (emigrated) a foreign country to the United States. They have some of the same freedoms and legal rights as U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote in elections. Nationals: American nationals are natives of American territorial possessions. They have all the legal protections which citizens have, but they do not have the full political rights of US citizens. Citizens: Persons born in the U.S. or to U.S. citizens in foreign countries are citizens of the United States. Persons born in other countries who want to become citizens must apply for and pass a citizenship test. Those who become citizens in this manner are naturalized citizens. DETERMINING IMMIGRATION STATUS Immigrants: Individuals living in US with intent on becoming full citizens Aliens RESIDENT ALIEN: Do not have to become citizens, but may stay indefinitely with possession of identification (“GREEN CARD”) NON-RESIDENT ALIEN: Alien who expects to stay for limited period of time (ex: foreign businessman, athlete, reporter)

Immigrant, or alien? ENEMY: Citizen of nation who US is at war with (ex: Japanese internment) REFUGEE: Granted entry into US because they are politically threatened or unwelcome in own nation  limited to 50,000 per year ILLEGAL ALIEN: Entered US illegally or stay beyond limits of their visa

Where do all these new people come from, anyway? HISTORICAL PATTERNS 99% of all Americans can trace their roots to another country 1901-1910: Greatest amount of immigrants entering US  European wave 1981-1990: Next great wave of immigration  Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America

How did America historically address the changing face of its population? POLICIES AND CONTROVERSIES How America has met immigration throughout history Before 1880: Open and encouraged immigration to US  met need for cheap labor CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT (1882): Established federal right to limit immigration based on nationality QUOTA ACT (1921): Limited countries to specific percentages of immigration allowed (except West) IMMIGRATION ACT (1990): Raised legal immigration level to 700,000 per year

How has our citizenship and immigration policy become controversial? Controversies resulting from immigration policies UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS Mostly from Mexico and Latin America Estimates of over 2 million entering US each year Addressing problems of undocumented Severe penalties on employers who hire illegal aliens Amnesty (freedom from prosecution) for the undocumented in effort to pursue citizenship

How has our citizenship and immigration policy become controversial? Debates on liberal immigration policies CRITICS Jobs “stolen” from Americans Lowers overall wages Destroys American culture SUPPORTERS “We were all immigrants at one time!” Immigrants do the jobs that average Americans won’t Majority of immigrants pay taxes and adjust to American lifestyles