Citizenship and Naturalization

Citizen

• a legally recognized member of a country.

Who is U.S. citizen?

• Anyone born in a U.S. state or territory.• Anyone who has at least one parent who is a

U.S. citizen.

How does a person become a US citizen without being born as a citizen?

• Naturalization – The process by which aliens (people not from here) become citizens.

Step 1

Enter the U.S. legally and live there for 5 years. (Only 3 years when married to a U.S. citizen)

Step 2

Apply- Petition the government for Naturalization.

• Must be 18 years old.

Step 3

Interview- two steps• Show good moral character- No criminal

record.• Prove competency in the English language

(reading, writing) and U.S. history and civics. Pass the test!!

Step 4

Applicant files petition in a Naturalization Court

• Background check completed.• Final approval given.

Step 5

Take an Oath of Citizenship in a court of law

• Minors, children under 18, automatically become citizens when their parent(s) is officially naturalized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-3z-_CISLA

What do these new citizens get?

• Naturalized citizens have the same rights and duties as native-born Americans. There is one exception. Naturalized citizens are not eligible to become president or vice president of the United States.

How do we know this?

• 14th Amendment-defines U.S. Citizenship, guarantees all citizens “equal protection under the law.”