Vocabulary Citizenship

For the two men who scream at me at the end of times

Citizen

A person who is a legal member of a nation, country, or self-governing community.

Naturalized Citizen

A legal permanent resident who passes a test to show they understand the history and constitution.

Civic Responsibility

The obligations that each person has to a society, such as voting, obeying the laws, and paying taxes.

Political Rights

These allow citizens to participate in the political process. They go through due process of law, serve on juries, and seek and hold office.

Personal Responsibility

Obligations that each person gets individually, accepting consequences of their actions and behaving civily.

Common Good

The good of the community as a whole.

Individual/Personal Rights

These are specific rights that belong to each person, such as those listed in the Bill of Rights, rather than general rights.

Refugee

People who must flee from danger in their native countries and find residence outside their homeland.

Resident Alien

People who have fleed to the US to establish permanent residence but cannot run for office.

Non-Resident Alien

Aliens who expect to stay in a foreign country for a short, specific time.

Illegal Alien

Individuals who enter the US without legal permission or who enter as tourists and stay longer than their tourist status allows.

Economic Rights

Rights needed to earn a living, aquire and transfer property, or produce goods and services.

Jus Soli

Being born on American soil.

Jus Sanguine

Being born of American parents.

Naturalization

A legal process to obtain citizenship.

Immigrant

A person coming to the United States intenting to become a citizen.