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.”