Unit 2: Americans, Citizenship, and Gov.

civics

federal system

-power divided between local & central gov

-dual sovereignty

-up and down

unitary system

-all authority from central gov

-has right to give power to local gov

-(down)

confederal system

-states delegate limited powers to central authority

-no power of enforcement

-decisions require unanimous consent

(up)

migration

movement of people with intentions of settling in a new location

emigration

-the act of leaving ones home to settle permanently in another

immigration

-international movement of people to another country, where they don’t possess citizenship, in order to settle as permanent residents

refugee

individual forced to flee their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution and are unable to return home

asylum

a form of legal protection granted by a country to foreign nationals who have fled their home country due to persecution

IRCA

-Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986)

-penalized employers for hiring illegal immigrants

-provided a path towards citizenship

-increased border security

Dream Act

-proposed law for illegal immigrants who came to U.S as minors

-provides a pathway to citizenship for those who graduated hs and lived in U.S for at least 5 years

proposed 11 times but never passed

DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

-provides temporary relief (2 years) from deportation for illegal minors (can be renewed)

-allows recipients to gain work permits

Natural birthright citizenship

-automatically a U.S citizen if born in U.S, U.S territory, or military base

naturalization

-legal process of obtaining citizenship

-must be 18, green card holder for 5+ years (3 if married), posses good moral character, and pass english and civics test

green card

permanent resident card

-not a citizen but been granted legal right to live there indefinitely

-become resident alien

visa

-grants legal permission to leave, stay, or enter inot a country for a specified period of time

-become nonresident alien

-ends when you leave country

-typically no longer than 3 months

rights

-privilege or claim to something

-bill of rights

-right to vote, jury duty, participate in gov

responsibilities

duties to other people, gov, or society

-ordinances, taxes, voting jury duty

duty’s

an action that is required, by law, of citizens

-pay taxes, jury duty