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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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