citizenship us essay

• Immigration

The Complicated Truth About What U.S. Citizenship Means Today

T he first time I saw the Statue of Liberty was 25 years ago, from a noisy ferry that brought me and hundreds of other eager tourists across New York Harbor. Back then I was a foreign student, in Manhattan for three days to attend an academic conference on linguistics. I had only one afternoon to devote to sightseeing, and faced with the choice of which landmark to visit, I settled immediately on Ellis Island. The site loomed large in my imagination, likely because of its romantic portrayal in the American movies I had grown up watching. I ambled through the stately inspection room, where original chandeliers cast their pale light, sat for a few minutes on the wooden benches, then went inside the exhibit rooms, filled with artifacts documenting the arrival of immigrants.

I still remember the jolt of surprise I felt when I came across a portrait of three Moroccan men and a little boy, all clad in national dress–cloak, djellaba, cross-body bag, leather slippers. It was a trace of a history I didn’t know existed. After the surprise wore off, I began to wonder about their names, their pasts, their families, their reasons for emigrating. Years later, researching this picture online, I discovered that the photographer, an employee of the Executive Division of Immigration, had scribbled “Arab jugglers” on the back of the print. These were performers, then, seeking fame or fortune here. They forged new identities and became Americans, just like the other 12 million immigrants and refugees who passed through Ellis Island from 1882 to 1954. Or at least, that is how the story goes: America was formed from huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

As I walked around the exhibit rooms at the Ellis Island immigration museum, it never occurred to me that someday I would become an immigrant too, and eventually a citizen. At the time, my goal had been to complete a graduate degree in linguistics and return to Morocco. But my life took an unexpected turn when I met and fell in love with an American. I said yes to him, and yes to staying here. Years passed, during which I learned more about the country I now called home: its charms and foibles, its culture and history, its claims to being a “nation of immigrants.” And I came to understand that, like any origin story, this one leaves out inconvenient details.

The boundaries of Americanness, which seem so elastic in the myth of a “nation of immigrants,” have in fact been very rigid–and always, always contested. At the founding of the United States, American citizenship was available exclusively to “free white persons.” It took decades of struggle, and a bloody civil war, before citizenship was extended to formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Indigenous people, who were members of sovereign nations, did not have full access to citizenship until 1924. And for much of this country’s history, a slew of race-based immigration laws, like the Chinese Exclusion Act, prevented most immigrants from outside Western Europe from coming to the U.S. or claiming U.S. citizenship.

It is tempting to think that this ugly history is behind us. Yet even a glance at current headlines makes it clear how deeply entrenched white-supremacist ideas about Americanness remain. The Trump Administration announced in 2019 that it would cut the number of refugees the U.S. will resettle in 2020 to no more than 18,000, the lowest number since the program was created 40 years ago. These refugees come principally from Asia, Africa and Latin America, which is to say they often come from countries the President has frequently disparaged. Ken Cuccinelli, the acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has long been an opponent of birthright citizenship and last fall told reporters that he doesn’t believe a constitutional amendment would be needed to end it. And Stephen Miller, the White House aide who has long echoed white-nationalist talking points and who is widely credited with being the architect of the Muslim ban, has pushed for sweeping changes to immigration laws that would favor people who speak English.

There are also rhetorical clues from this Administration and its supporters about who gets to be a “real” American. Last summer, Donald Trump called on Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib to “go back” to the “crime-infested places” from which they came. (All but Omar were born in the U.S.) More recently, conservative cable hosts like Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade insinuated that Alexander Vindman–an official at the National Security Council who testified that the President had asked the leader of Ukraine to investigate a political rival in exchange for military aid–might not be entirely loyal to the U.S. because he was an immigrant. It didn’t matter that Vindman was an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army; his allegiance was called into question.

Being American isn’t just a state of being, whether native or acquired. It’s a relationship between an individual and the nation-state. To be an American means, among other things, to have the right to vote in state and federal elections, to have protection from unreasonable searches, to be free to speak or worship or assemble without government interference. In the past, these rights, protections and liberties were not granted equally to all, and they still aren’t today. For instance, millions of formerly incarcerated people in states like Alabama, Kentucky, Florida and Mississippi have lost the right to vote and are therefore shut out of the democratic process. This has vastly disproportionate effects on black men. By comparison, Vermont and Maine, the two whitest states in the union, allow both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people to vote. Citizenship is supposed to be an equalizer, yet in many ways it still functions as a tiered system that mirrors past racial hierarchies.

Four years ago, while I was visiting New York for a literary event, I took my daughter and niece to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a cloudy day in June, but the air was thick with humid heat. Both girls were excited about seeing the national landmarks; both undertook ancestry searches at the interactive exhibits. Although neither site was new to me any longer, I felt just as moved as the first time I’d seen them. There is something deeply seductive about these symbols. Even with the awareness of America’s history of colonial expansion and white supremacy, the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is still a potent lure.

I live with this contradiction every day, with the knowledge that the bleak past and the better future meet in the present moment. Citizenship is both an idea and an ideal, the journey from one to the other a measure of the nation’s progress. I wish this journey could be taken in a giant leap, even as I fear it will be walked slowly, fearfully, and with many steps back along the way. Yet I keep the faith. Perhaps it’s because I’m a novelist, whose work involves constant use of the imagination. Or perhaps it’s because I’m an immigrant, whose vantage point grants the privilege to look at the country from the inside and the outside. Either way, I know that promise is the best catalyst for progress.

More Must-Reads from TIME

• Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
• Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
• How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
• What’s the Best Pillow Setup for Sleep?
• How Improv Comedy Can Help Resolve Conflicts
• 4 Signs Your Body Needs a Break
• The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Contact us at [email protected]

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Need help? Visit a USCIS office

We want your feedback, citizenship.

• Sign In Create Account
• Create Account
• Find a doctor
• Find an English or citizenship class
• Learn about the naturalization process
• Learn about citizenship rights and responsibilities
• Schedule an appointment

Naturalization: What to expect

Naturalization is a way for a person to become a U.S. citizen. Below is a general overview of what to expect during the naturalization process. To learn more, read the Guide to Naturalization .

You have decided to apply for U.S. citizenship. Here is what to do next:

Review the application instructions

Download the naturalization application

Get two passport-style photos taken

Collect all the documents and evidence you will need to complete your application

Fill out your application

Review your work and correct any mistakes

Submit your application, two photos, documents and evidence, and the required fees. Find out where to file your application.

Make sure to keep your address current with USCIS

After we accept your application, we will notify you if we need to take your biometrics: fingerprints, photo, and signature.

We will send you an appointment notice if we need biometrics. The notice will provide you the date, time, and location of the appointment.

Appear at the location at the scheduled date and time on the appointment notice

Bring the following documents to the appointment:

Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card;

Appointment notice; and

A second form of identification (driver’s license, passport, or state identification card). Your second form of identification must have your photograph on it.

We will send your fingerprints to the FBI to conduct a background check

At your appointment, we will give you a study booklet to help you prepare for the English and civics tests

During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will ask you questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver. The English test has three components: reading, writing, and speaking. The civics test covers important U.S. history and government topics. See below to learn more about the test and the free study tools available to help you prepare.

Study for the English test

Study for the civics test

Find a free naturalization information session

Find an English and/or citizenship preparation class in your area

We will mail you an appointment notice for your naturalization interview. You must appear at the USCIS office at the date and time shown on your appointment notice.

Appear at the USCIS office at the scheduled date and time on your interview notice

Bring the following documentation to your naturalization interview:

Your interview appointment notice;

A state-issued identification such as a driver’s license; and

All valid and expired passports and travel documents issued to you that document your absences from the United States since becoming a permanent resident.

For a list of other documents that you may need to bring with you, read Form M-477, Document Checklist.

Take the English and civics tests

We will inform you of the results

If requested, submit additional information to USCIS

Once you have successfully completed your interview and your application has been approved, we will schedule you to take the Oath of Allegiance. You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.

Receive a notice for the oath ceremony

Arrive at the ceremony and check in with USCIS

We will collect your Permanent Resident Card

A USCIS officer will review your responses to the questionnaire on Form N-445 when you arrive at the ceremony.

Take the Oath of Allegiance

Receive your Certificate of Naturalization

Once you are a U.S. citizen, you can enjoy expanded rights and responsibilities . Celebrate your citizenship and share your story !

Research Our Records

Naturalization Records

In an effort to assist patrons seeking dual citizenship to understand what the National Archives can and cannot assist them with, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions .

Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. It is a voluntary act; naturalization is not required.

Prior to September 27, 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant United States citizenship. Often petitioners went to the court most geographically convenient for them. As a general rule, the National Archives does not have naturalization records created in state or local courts. However, a few indexes and records have been donated to the National Archives from counties, states, and local courts. Researchers should contact the National Archives facility serving the state in which the petitioner resided to determine if records from lower courts are available. In certain cases county court naturalization records maintained by the National Archives are available as microfilm publications .  Records from state and local courts are often at state archives or historical societies.

Beginning September 27, 1906, US naturalization law imposed a fee structure that encouraged the transfer of naturalization to Federal courts. It took time for the lower courts to let go of the practice, so researchers may need to look at lower courts if the National Archives does not maintain a record of naturalization from the early-mid 20 th century.

In general, naturalization was a two-step process* that took a minimum of five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a " declaration of intention " ("first papers") to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization" (”second papers”). After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the new citizen. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court.  [*Exceptions can include cases of derivative citizenship, processes for minor aliens 1824-1906, and special consideration for veterans.]

If a naturalization took place in a Federal court, naturalization indexes, declarations of intention (with any accompanying certificates of arrival), and petitions for naturalization will usually be in the National Archives facility serving the state in which the Federal court  is located. No central index exists.

To ensure a successful request with the National Archives researchers should include:

• name of petitioner (including known variants);
• date of birth;
• approximate date of entry to the US;
• approximate date of naturalization;
• where the individual was residing at the time of naturalization (city/county/state);
• and country of origin

In most cases, the National Archives will not have a copy of the certificate of citizenship . Two copies of the certificate were created – one given to the petitioner as proof of citizenship, and, after September 26, 1906, one forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Certificates of citizenship were issued by the Federal courts until October 1991 when naturalization became an administrative function under the INS.

All INS records are now overseen by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS maintains duplicate copies of court records (including the certificate of citizenship) created September 27, 1906-March 31, 1956 within Certificate Files (C-Files). Beginning April 1, 1956, INS began filing all naturalization records in a subject’s Alien File (A-File). C-Files and certain A-Files can be requested through the USCIS Genealogy Program . If you are a naturalized citizen seeking your own documentation, you can place a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to USCIS to obtain a copy of your A-File and/or request a replacement certificate of citizenship from USCIS .

Please Note:

• Although there can be inaccuracies in naturalization records, the records cannot be changed or corrected by National Archives staff because they are historic documents that are maintained as they were created by the courts. 
• National Archives staff can only issue a certified copy of a document in our custody (see 44 USC 2116 and 44 USC 3112).
• The National Archives does not have authority to issue an apostille. The US Department of State has the authorization to issue an apostille of a copy of a document certified by the National Archives.
• The National Archives does not have the authority to issue a certification of non-existence of a record, and can only issue a negative search letter. Negative results for a search of National Archives holdings only indicates that a naturalization record was not found in the possession of the National Archives, not that it does not exist.
• USCIS has exclusive authority over matters concerning citizenship records after 1906 and can provide a Certification of Non-Existence of a Record of Naturalization .  

Naturalization Quick Reference

• No central index exists.
• Naturalization records dated prior to October 1991 from the Federal courts are at the National Archives.
• In most cases, the National Archives will not have a copy of the certificate of citizenship granted to a petitioner – our holdings normally include only the declaration of intention (with any accompanying certificate of arrival) and petition for naturalization.
• Naturalization records from state or local courts are often at state archives or county historical societies.
• Naturalization records dated October 1991 and after were created by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and are now with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• Name of individual (including known variants)
• Date of birth
• Approximate date of entry to the US
• Approximate date of naturalization
• Where the individual was residing at the time of naturalization (city/county/state)
• Country of origin

For More Information

• Reference Reports on Citizenship and Naturalization  
• Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940 , an article in  Prologue  
• " A Gold Mine of Naturalization Records in New England ", by Walter V. Hickey  
• For more detailed information about  naturalization laws and procedures , consult: Kettner, James H.  The Development of American Citizenship, 1608-1870  (Chapel Hill, NC: Univ. of North Carolina Press, 1978). Newman, John J.  American Naturalization Processes and Procedures, 1790-1985  (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1985). Newman, John J.  American Naturalization Records, 1790-1990: What They are and How to Use Them  (Bountiful, UT: Heritage Quest, 1998).  
• For general information about the  regulation of immigration  into the United States, consult: U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service,  An Immigrant Nation: United States Regulation of Immigration, 1798-1991  (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991).  
• For information about  Federal naturalization records and indexes  available as National Archives microfilm publications, consult: Listings for Record Group 21, Records of U.S. District Courts; Record Group 85, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; and Donated Materials in the National Archives in  Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications  (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1999), which is available  online  or for  purchase .  
• For detailed information about  research and locating  Federal, State, and local naturalization records and their availability on microfilm, consult: Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, "The Location of Naturalization Records,"  The Record , Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 21-22 (Nov. 1996). Schaefer, Christine.  Guide to Naturalization Records of the United States  (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997). Szucs, Loretto Dennis.  They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins . Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, 1998.

Sample Naturalization Records and Online Indexes

Sample Record

• See the Naturalization Records of Maria von Trapp

Online Indexes and Finding Aids Please Note : If a name index is not available online, researchers should contact the National Archives facility serving the state in which the petitioner resided as many indexes exist only in the research room.

• Name Index to Naturalization Records from Dakota Territory and South Dakota  
• Name Index to North Dakota Naturalization Records , U.S. District and U.S. Circuit Courts, District of North Dakota  
• Name index to naturalization records, including declarations and petitions, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, McCook Division  
• Name index to naturalization records, including declarations and petitions, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, Chadron Division  
• Name index to naturalizations, 1846 - 1890, U.S. Circuit and U.S. District Courts, Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division (St. Louis)  
• Naturalization Records available at the National Archives at Kansas City , includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Dakota Territory, and South Dakota  
• Naturalization Records available at the National Archives at Chicago , includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin  
• Naturalization Records available at the National Archives at Riverside , includes Arizona, California, and Nevada  
• Naturalization Records available at the National Archives at New York City , includes New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico

Now you can order copies of naturalization records online  through the OrderOnline system!

US Citizenship Practice Test

Thanks for taking the US Citizenship Practice Test this is based on the official USCIS Naturalization Test questions.

Study on the go, download our FREE App

Enhanced functionalities: results tracking, mock exam reviews, smart timer, readiness assessment, etc.

Recommended by Trusted Non-Profits Partners

Test Summary

0 of 133 Questions completed

Information

You have already completed the test before. Hence you can not start it again.

Test is loading…

You must sign in or sign up to start the test.

You must first complete the following:

Test complete. Results are being recorded.

0 of 133 Questions answered correctly

Time has elapsed

You have reached 0 of 0 point(s), ( 0 )

Earned Point(s): 0 of 0 , ( 0 ) 0 Essay(s) Pending (Possible Point(s): 0 )

• Colonial Period and Independence 0%
• Holidays 0%
• Principles of American Government 0%
• Recent American History 0%
• Rights and Responsibilities 0%
• System of Government 0%

You need 60% to pass the US Citizenship Test. This free test is only for the civics test portion of the US Citizenship Test. Check out our US Citizenship Test Prep Course to learn how to pass the Speaking, Reading and Writing portion of the US Citizenship Test.

Congratulations, you’ve passed this test. This free test is only for the civics test portion of the US Citizenship Test. Check out our US Citizenship Test Prep Course to learn how to pass the Speaking, Reading and Writing portion of the US Citizenship Test.

1 . Question

Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.

• Susan B. Anthony
• Jane Austen
• Maya Angelou

2 . Question

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

• World War I
• World War II
• Mexican-American War

3 . Question

Name the U.S. War between the North and the South.

• The War of 1812
• The Civil War
• The Revolutionary War

4 . Question

The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

• War of 1812
• Emancipation Proclamation
• Lincoln assassination
• 14th amendment

5 . Question

What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?

• 11th amendment
• 12th amendment
• 13th amendment

6 . Question

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

• Gave women the right to vote
• Freed slaves in most Southern states
• Gave the United States independence from Great Britain
• Ended World War I

7 . Question

What territory did the U.S. Buy from France in 1803?

8 . Question

What U.S. war ended slavery?

9 . Question

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

• Purchased Alaska
• Declared war on Great Britain
• Established the United Nations
• Saved (or preserved) the Union

10 . Question

When did all men get the right to vote?

• After the Civil War
• During Reconstruction
• (With the) 15th Amendment
• All of the above

11 . Question

Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

• First Secretary of the Treasury
• Fourth president of the United States
• President during the War of 1812
• "Father of the Constitution"

12 . Question

George Washington is famous for many things. Name one:

• First president of the United States
• One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
• Helped establish the First Bank of the United States

13 . Question

James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

• Third president of the United States
• Doubled the size of the United States
• Writer of the Declaration of Independence

14 . Question

The American Revolution had many important events. Name two

• Battle of Bunker Hill and Battle of Gettysburg
• Declaration of Independence and Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
• Battle of Yorktown and the Burning of the White House
• Declaration of Independence and the Freeing of Slaves

15 . Question

The colonists fought the British because:

• Of high taxes, no freedom of speech and they didn't have self-government
• Of poor infrastructure, the British army stayed in their houses and they didn't have self-government
• Of high taxes, the British army stayed in their houses and they didn't have healthcare
• Of high taxes, the British army stayed in their houses and they didn't have their own self-government

16 . Question

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

• Alexander Hamilton
• George Washington
• Abraham Lincoln

17 . Question

• Thomas Jefferson
• James Madison

18 . Question

There were ____ original states?

19 . Question

There were 13 original states. Name 5.

• New York, Kentucky, California, Virginia and Georgia
• Virginia, North Carolina, California, New York and Florida
• Washington, Oregon, New York, Florida and California
• Maryland, Virginia, New York, Delaware and North Carolina

20 . Question

Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

• General of the Continental Army
• President of the Constitutional Convention

21 . Question

What Founding document was written in 1787

• US Constitution
• Townshend Acts
• Boston Tea Party (Tea Act)

22 . Question

What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

• Native Americans

23 . Question

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

• U.S. diplomat
• The youngest member of the Constitutional Convention  
• Inventor of the airplane

24 . Question

What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

25 . Question

When was the Constitution written?

26 . Question

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

• December 7, 1787
• July 4, 1776
• July 4, 1876
• March 4, 1789

27 . Question

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

• Native Americans/ American Indians

28 . Question

Who was the first President?

• Barack Obama
• Theodore Roosevelt

29 . Question

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

30 . Question

Why did colonists come to America?

• For freedom, for economic opportunity and for education
• For freedom, for economic opportunity and for better healthcare
• For freedom, for education and to escape persecution
• For freedom, for economic opportunity and to escape persecution

31 . Question

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

• It was the detailed version of the US Constitution
• It rallied people to support the revolution
• They helped people understand and supported the passing of the (U.S.) Constitution.
• It gave people hope

32 . Question

Name two national U.S. holidays.

• Citizenship Day and Columbus Day
• April Fool's Day and Labor Day
• Valentine's Day and President's Day
• Labor Day and Thanksgiving

33 . Question

What is Independence Day?

• A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
• The day when the South seceded from the Union
• The country's birthday
• Both a & c

34 . Question

What is Memorial Day?

• A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
• A holiday to honor the victims of 9/11
• A holiday that recognizes everyone who served in the Armed Forces
• A holiday to honor the people who died fighting for civil rights

35 . Question

What is Veterans Day?

36 . Question

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

• December 25

37 . Question

How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?

• law changes

38 . Question

How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

39 . Question

40 . question.

Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name two

• Declaration of Independence and UN Charter of Human Rights
• Articles of Federation and Fundamental Orders of New York
• Articles of Confederation and Federalist Papers
• Anti-Federalist Papers and Virginia Law of Peace

41 . Question

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does

• forms the government
• protects the people
• defines powers of government

42 . Question

Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

• Equality and Liberty
• Limited government and Socialism
• Monarchy and Socialism
• Religion and Natural rights

43 . Question

The “Rule of law” is:

• Everyone must follow the law. Leaders obey some laws but not all. Government must obey the law. No one is above the law.
• Everyone must follow the law. Leaders must obey the law. Government is exempt from some laws. No one is above the law.
• Everyone must follow the law. Leaders must obey the law. Government must obey the law. The president is above the law.
• Everyone must follow the law. Leaders must obey the law. Government must obey the law. No one is above the law.

44 . Question

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People”. What does “We the People” mean?

• Self government
• Popular sovereignty
• Human rights
• both a & b

45 . Question

The words “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?

• The U.S. Constitution
• Declaration of Independence
• Bill of Rights
• Articles of Confederation

46 . Question

There are three branches of government. Why?

• Checks and Balances
• Separation of powers
• Both a & b
• Reduce bureaucracy

47 . Question

What does Bill of Rights protect?

• rights of businesses
• human rights worldwide
• rights of Americans
• rights of the British

48 . Question

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

• None of the above

49 . Question

What is the economic system of the United States?

50 . Question

What is the form of government of the United States?

• Republic, Constitution-based federal republic and Representative democracy
• Socialism, Constitution-based federal republic and Representative democracy
• Republic, Constitution-based federal republic and Monarchy
• Republic, an oligarchy and Representative democracy

51 . Question

What is the supreme law of the land?

• UN Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• The Constitution
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

52 . Question

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

• It says America is free from British Control
• It identifies inherent rights
• It established another country up north

53 . Question

Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.

• General during World War II
• Launched astronauts into space
• Developed nuclear bombs that were dropped into Japan during World War II
• Pulled the United States from the Great Depression

54 . Question

Name one American Indian tribe in the United States

55 . Question

Name one example of an American innovation

• Skyscrapers
• Assembly line

56 . Question

Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks

• War in Afghanistan
• Persian Gulf War
• Vietnam War

57 . Question

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.

• Revolutionary War

58 . Question

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

• Ran for the president of the United States
• Fought for women's suffrage
• Became a U.S. Senator
• Fought for civil rights

59 . Question

What did the civil rights movement do?

• Freed the slaves
• Gave minorities the right to vote
• Fought to end racial discrimination

60 . Question

What happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?

• Terrorists attacked the United States
• The stock market crashed
• Same-sex marriage was legalized

61 . Question

What is the name of the national anthem?

• America the Beautiful
• My Country Tis of Thee
• The Star-Spangled Banner
• God Bless the U.S.A.

62 . Question

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

• Conservation
• Women's suffrage
• Civil rights movement
• Prohibition

63 . Question

What was the Great Depression?

• Period of low morale in the country during WWII
• A nickname for the Grand Canyon
• Longest economic recession in modern history
• A long period of time where the United States had the lowest literacy rates

64 . Question

What was the main concern of the United States during the Cold War?

• The Great Depression
• Climate Change

65 . Question

When did all women get the right to vote?

66 . Question

When did the Great Depression Start?

67 . Question

Who was the President during World War II and the Great Depression?

• Calvin Coolidge
• Herbert Hoover
• Franklin Roosevelt
• Harry Truman

68 . Question

Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?

• Great Britain
• Soviet Union

69 . Question

Why did the United States enter the Korean War?

• It was rich in resources
• Fight the Japanese
• Stop the spread of communism
• Stop the spread of fascism

70 . Question

Why did the United States enter the Persion Gulf War?

• stop the spread of communism
• to force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
• stop the spread of Iran's influence
• for its resources

71 . Question

Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?

72 . Question

Why did the United States enter World War I?

• Because German attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
• To support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, and Russia) and oppose the central powers
• In retaliation on the attack on Pearl Harbor

73 . Question

Why did the United States enter World War II?

• Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
• To get out of the Great Depression
• Give the military something to do
• Fight the threat of communism

74 . Question

How can people become United States citizens?

• Derive citizenship
• Be born in the United States
• Any of the above

75 . Question

It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why

• Required by law
• Makes the draft fair, if needed

76 . Question

Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance

• Give up loyalty to other countries and defend the (U.S.) Constitution
• Be free to express yourself and not cause trouble
• Serve in the military and bear arms
• To petition the government if it does anything wrong and be employed in the United States

77 . Question

What are the four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote?

• Citizens twenty one (21) and older (can vote). You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote. Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) A male citizen of any race (can vote).
• Citizens sixteen(16) and older (can vote). You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote. Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) A male citizen of any race (can vote).
• Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote). You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote. Any citizen and immigrant can vote. (Women and men can vote.) A male citizen of any race (can vote).
• Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote). You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote. Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) A male citizen of any race (can vote).

78 . Question

What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?

• Freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of expression
• Freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom to make treaties with other countries
• Freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom to run for president
• Freedom to petition the government, freedom of expression and freedom to disobey traffic laws

79 . Question

What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

• Join a political party and join a civic group
• Get a driver's license and attend school
• Volunteer and pay taxes
• Get a job and protest

80 . Question

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

• The President
• The United States
• The state where you live

81 . Question

What is one way Americans can serve their country?

82 . Question

What is the responsibility that is only for U.S. Citizens?

• Be respectful of others
• Serve on a jury
• Obey the law

83 . Question

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

• All male between the age of 16 – 21 must register within 30 days of arriving to the US and within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
• All male between the age of 18 – 21 must register within 30 days of arriving to the US and within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
• All male between the age of 16 – 25 must register within 30 days of arriving to the US and within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
• All male between the age of 18 – 25 must register within 30 days of arriving to the US and within 30 days of their 18th birthday.

84 . Question

Which of the following is a right only for U.S. Citizens?

• Vote in a federal election and serve on a jury
• Serve on a jury and free access to healthcare
• Run for federal office and serve on a jury.
• Vote in a federal election and run for federal office.

85 . Question

Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?

• Citizens of the United States
• Permanent Residence of the United States
• Anyone in the United States during time of election

86 . Question

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

• It's required by law (16th Amendment) and to fund the federal government
• To support our military
• Federal tax is optional and not mandatory
• To support the president of the United States

87 . Question

The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?

• Out of many, one
• We all become one
• We must become one

88 . Question

What is the capital of the United States?

• New York, NY
• Washington, D.C.
• Philadelphia, PA

89 . Question

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

• Long Island
• Boston Harbor
• San Francisco Bay
• New York Harbor

90 . Question

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

• Because the stripes represent the original colonies
• Because it was considered lucky to have 13 stripes on a flag
• Because the stripes represent the number of signatures on the U.S. Constitution
• Because the stripes represent the members of the Second Continental Congress

91 . Question

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

• Because there is one star for each president
• Because there is one star for each state
• Because there were 50 original colonies
• Because there were 50 people who originally came to the United States

92 . Question

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

• Until they retire

93 . Question

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

94 . Question

How many senators does each state have?

95 . Question

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

96 . Question

How many years is a U.S. Representative elected for?

97 . Question

How many years is a U.S. Senator elected for?

98 . Question

Name one part of the executive branch

• Any of the below
• President of the United States
• Federal departments and agencies

99 . Question

Name one power of the president

• Signs bill into law
• Commander in Chief of the military
• Vetoes Bills

100 . Question

Name the powers of the U.S. Congress.

• Writes laws, Declares war and makes the federal budget.
• Writes laws, select cabinet members and makes the federal budget
• Selects the supreme court judges, writes laws and makes federal budget
• Writes laws, selects the supreme court judges and declares war

101 . Question

Name one power that is only for the federal government

• Create school curriculums
• Set foreign policy
• Print stamps
• Issue licenses

102 . Question

Name the 3 branches of government

• Congress, president and the courts
• State government, Executive and the courts
• Parliament, president and congress
• United Nations, federal and state.

103 . Question

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

• to save on costs
• to be independent of politics
• to increase their influence on the president

104 . Question

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

105 . Question

The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

• To give other people a chance to run for president
• Because of the 22nd Amendment and to keep the president from becoming too powerful
• Because of 1st Amendment and to keep the president from becoming too powerful
• There's too much pressure for someone to serve more than 2 terms as a president

106 . Question

The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

• Legislative Branch
• Executive Branch
• Judicial branch

107 . Question

There are ______ U.S. Senators.

108 . Question

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

• To declare war
• To issue driver's licenses
• To provide schooling and education
• To provide protection (police)

109 . Question

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

• Create an army
• Coin or print money
• Make treaties
• Provide schooling and education

110 . Question

Under our Constitution, which of the following is NOT a power of the states?

• To give a driver's license
• To create an army
• To approve zoning and land use
• To provide education

111 . Question

We elect a President for _____ years

112 . Question

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

• The Senate and House of Representatives
• The courts and the Senate
• The courts and House of Representatives
• The Legislature and the Senate

113 . Question

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

• Attorney General and Secretary of Agriculture
• Secretary of Justice and Chief of Staff
• Secretary of Arts and Secretary of History
• Secretary of Police and Secretary of Health

114 . Question

• Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of the Navy
• Secretary of Weather and Secretary of Energy
• Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of History
• Secretary of State and Secretary of Labor

115 . Question

What does the judicial branch do?

• Review laws
• Resolves disputes
• Decides if a law goes against the Constitution
• All of the answers

116 . Question

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

• Advises the President
• Commands the U.S. Armed Forces

117 . Question

What is one part of the judicial branch?

• Federal courts
• State courts
• Municipal courts
• Appeals courts

118 . Question

What is the highest court in the United States?

• The District Court
• The Supreme Court
• The Federal Court
• The Court of Appeals

119 . Question

What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

• All people have equal rights
• Allows citizens to own guns
• Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people
• Limits the president to two terms

120 . Question

What part of the federal government writes laws?

• The President, Vice President and the cabinet
• Congress, legislature and legislative branch

121 . Question

Who appoints federal judges?

• The Secretary of State
• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
• The Vice President

122 . Question

Who becomes President if the President can no longer serve?

• The Speaker of the House
• The President Pro Tempore
• The Vice president

123 . Question

Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

• Citizens of the state
• Residence of the state
• Citizens in their congressional district
• All Citizens in the US

124 . Question

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

• All people of the state
• Only the people in the state who voted for the senator
• The state legislatures
• Only the people of the state who belong to the senator's political party

125 . Question

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

• Citizens from their congressional district

126 . Question

Who elects US senators

• Citizens of major cities
• Citizens from the state
• All residences of major cities
• All residences of the state

127 . Question

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

• The Attorney General
• The Secretary of Defense

128 . Question

Who signs bills to become laws?

129 . Question

Who vetoes bills?

• The speaker of the House

130 . Question

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

• Because of the state's population
• Because of the geographical size of the state
• Because of the state's location
• Because the state's Representatives have seniority in the House of Representatives

131 . Question

Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

• Representatives quit too frequently
• The president wants more frequent turnover of the representatives
• It aligns with the state elections
• To more closely follow public opinion

132 . Question

Why does each state have two senators?

• The senate cannot function with more senators
• Equal representation (for small states) and the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
• There's not enough funding for more senators
• One represents the state and one represents the federal government

133 . Question

Why is the Electoral College important?

• It decides who is elected president
• It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection
• It provides a pathway for citizens to become elected leaders

119 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Recent Posts

• Immigrating to Australia – Australian Citizenship, Visa, Permanent Residence
• Immigrating to Canada – Canadian Citizenship, Visa, Permanent Residence
• How Do I Apply For Canadian Citizenship

Pin It on Pinterest

• https://www.facebook.com/citizenshiptests.org/
• www.pinterest.com/citizenshiptests

Background Essay: Rights, Equality, and Citizenship

Directions:

Keep these discussion questions in mind as you read the background essay, making marginal notes as desired. Respond to the reflection and analysis questions at the end of the essay.

Discussion Questions

• Is suffrage a right or a privilege?
• Is suffrage necessary for a person to be considered a citizen?
• Is legal equality necessary for liberty?
• Can a person be free if not equal under the law?

Introduction

What is equality? What is the connection between equality and citizenship? The principle of equality means that all individuals have the same status regarding their claim to natural rights and treatment before the law. Our definition of citizenship has expanded throughout American history, most often through claims to our natural equality. The story of women’s suffrage is an example of the patience, determination, and sacrifice necessary to carry out long term change within a constitutional order. The word, suffrage, meaning “the right to vote,” originated with the Latin suffragium, meaning “a vote cast in an assembly, or influence given in support of a candidate.”

The Declaration of Independence asserts as a self-evident truth that all people were created equal. Something “self-evident” is a plain truth that does not need to be proven through reasoned deduction from other principles. It is apparent immediately (or self-evident) to any reasonable observer that there are no natural differences among people which give one person or group of people (such as kings and queens) the power to rule over others without their consent. All have equal rights and dignity.

In his Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690), as part of an argument against slavery, English philosopher John Locke theorized that all people are born free: “The natural liberty of man [human beings] is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man [humans], but to have only the law of nature for his rule.”

Almost a century later, Samuel Adams quoted Locke regarding the natural liberty of man, agreeing that all people are created equally free; there are no natural rulers.

Equality and Natural Rights

Further, the Declaration asserts that it was “self-evident” that human beings were “endowed by their Creator” with certain rights. In the Founders’ view, since rights come from God, the creator of our human nature, an individual’s natural rights could be neither given nor taken away. They are, to use the Declaration’s word, unalienable

The term “natural” here refers to human nature. Natural rights are those rights humans have at birth, including life, liberty, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and others. No person or government can “give” an individual these rights; they are part of what it means to be human. One can know natural rights are natural because they can all be exercised without requiring anything from others. Natural rights are sometimes called negative rights for this reason. They are also called inherent rights because they inhere in humanity: they are an essential characteristic of human nature.

Painting depicting Thomas Jefferson and his fellow committee members presenting their draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Second Continental Congress. Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, 1819. United States Capitol.

“Nobody Can Give More Power Than He Has Himself”

The assertion of inherent rights remains the foundation for the principle of equality. In the same argument against slavery, Locke reasoned:

“This freedom from absolute, arbitrary power, is so necessary to, and closely joined with a man’s preservation, that he cannot part with it…for a man, not having the power of his own life, cannot, by compact, or his own consent, enslave himself to any one, nor put himself under the absolute, arbitrary power of another, to take away his life, when he pleases. Nobody can give more power than he has himself; and he that cannot take away his own life, cannot give another power over it.”

In other words, Locke maintained, individual lives and the rights that flow from human nature belong to the Creator

Again, Adams echoes Locke in The Rights of the Colonists (1772):

“It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or any number of men, at the entering into society, to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights; when the grand end of civil government, from the very nature of its institution, is for the support, protection, and defense of those very rights; the principal of which, as is before observed, are Life, Liberty, and Property. If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate [make void] such renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.”

Because humans are born with inherent rights, these rights are the same under any political system. An unjust government— including a tyrannical majority—may abuse or abridge the people’s inherent rights, but can never remove them, since these rights are essential to human nature.

But not all rights are inherent. Political rights, for example, may vary through times and places, because, unlike natural rights, they are given by government. Many political rights, including voting and serving on juries, have been expanded to more groups of people throughout American history through claims to natural and inherent equality. Although people use the term “rights” to refer to them, these rights conferred by civil society could more accurately be considered privileges—abilities that can be justly given or denied by government under certain conditions. For example, a driver’s license will be granted if a person passes a driving test, but can be revoked for drunk driving or too many accidents. A person can lose the ability to serve on a jury and to vote if convicted of a felony. People have inherent rights by nature, but must have permission in order to exercise a privilege.

Samuel Adams by John Singleton Copley, about 1772; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The U.S. Constitution

The Declaration asserted two more principles that were self-evident: that in order to secure our rights, “governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and that when a government repeatedly abuses the peoples’ rights, the people have the power and the duty to “alter or abolish” it and create a new government that will better protect their rights and ensure their safety and happiness.

After a time under the Articles of Confederation, many observers recognized the need for a more powerful central government, giving rise to a convention of the states in 1787. The resulting new Constitution’s opening lines “We the people…ordain and establish this Constitution” outlined a government of limited powers, recognizing the sovereignty of the individual and protecting the natural right of the people to govern themselves.

With this right to self-government come many responsibilities. In fact, it could be argued that citizenship is more about responsibilities than about rights. Individuals are free to make choices about their government and direct their own lives within a system that guarantees the equal right (and responsibility) of others to do the same. The Constitution reflects the sovereignty of the individual, by limiting the national government to certain enumerated powers, leaving everything else to the states and to the people.

Theory vs. Practice

Despite the bold proclamation, the principle of equality was not meaningfully reflected in the lives of all people during the early republic. Enslaved persons and Native Americans were unable to exercise their inherent rights and were not afforded political rights. The Constitution sanctioned slavery both explicitly and implicitly: it gave Congress the power to ban the international slave trade, but mandated a 20-year waiting period before doing so. The Constitution also allowed slave states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population toward the calculation of those states’ representation in Congress. Though this compromise prevented slave states from having even greater power (they had wanted to count their entire slave populations), the policy tolerated the practice of owning and trading in human beings. Though many of the leading Founders were convinced of the evils and injustices of slavery, they did not end it in their lifetimes.

Women also lacked legal equality. Enslaved women and Native American women were denied all of their rights. Among white women, and depending on varying state laws, widows had some political rights and could own property, but married white women had no legal status at all under the traditional doctrine of coverture. The English jurist William Blackstone explained this doctrine in 1765. Through marriage, husband and wife become one person under the law: “the  very being or legal existence of the woman is suspended during the marriage, or at least is incorporated and consolidated into that of the husband; under whose wing, protection, and cover, she performs everything.”

The Constitution left voting requirements to the states, and so states could adopt different policies. Some states did away with property requirements but still required voters to be taxpayers. Some states required a tax to vote, or a poll tax. Vermont became the first state to grant universal male suffrage in 1777. New Jersey allowed property-owning white women and free African Americans to vote for a short time before that right was revoked in 1807.

Extending Equality

The Founding generation did not perfectly live out its ideal of equality. However, it provided a foundation for greater expansion of liberty through time. Through sustained effort and commitment over time, Americans have persistently appealed to Founding documents and their root principles to insist on changes that gradually recognized and protected both natural and civil rights.

The women’s suffrage movement provides a model for implementing social and legal change to better align institutions with principles of liberty, justice, and equality. The pathway for change was long. Seventy-two years passed between the Declaration of Independence assertion of self-evident and equal natural rights and the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, where women planned to “discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman.” In most parts of America in 1848 it was considered improper—even illegal—for women to speak in public meetings. Now they were convening one. It took another seventytwo years of struggle for women to achieve a constitutional amendment—the Nineteenth in 1920—protecting their right to vote, and guaranteeing their opportunity to participate more fully in the political process.

The Constitution contains the means to institute the meaningful changes required to bring it more in line with the governing principles on which it was founded. One of these methods is the amendment process, which is slow but effective. Reformers committed to equality and justice endured hardship and sacrifice to implement the amendment process to end slavery, and to grant the vote to black men, women, and people ages 18-21. Other methods of aligning the law with these principles, particularly equality, result from the system of checks and balances. The Supreme Court in 1954 checked the power of majorities in states when it ruled segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Congress has also invoked its enumerated powers to protect legal equality with laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Appeals to equality continue today as Americans debate the meaning of the principle as it applies to undocumented immigrants, the unborn, LGBTQ community members, disabled people, and many others.

REFLECTION AND ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

• On what basis did John Locke and Samuel Adams claim that slavery was unjust?
• List four truths the Declaration of Independence asserts are self-evident.
• What is a natural right?
• Should voting be considered a right or a privilege? Explain your choice.
• Do you agree with Locke that there are limits to what we can consent to? Does consent make any action good? Explain why or why not
• Some say that natural rights do not exist because so many governments have abused them throughout history. (Indeed, the Founders argued that the British King and Parliament were abusing theirs.) They say that if a right cannot be exercised effectively, it does not exist. Evaluate this assertion.
• The Founding generation did not fully live out its ideal of equality. Which ideals do people fail to live up to in modern times?
• Principles: equality, republican/representative government, popular sovereignty, federalism,inalienable rights
• Virtues: perseverance, contribution, moderation, resourcefulness, courage, respect, justice

Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments

Should the us federal government provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

• Path to Citizenship – Overview
• Path to Citizenship – Economic Security
• Path to Citizenship – Fair Process
• Border Fence or Wall
• Driver’s Licenses
• Mass Deportations
• Economic Burden
• Terrorist Threat
• Disadvantage American Workers
• Higher Crime

More on the Immigration Debate

• States (and DC) That Allow Driver’s Licenses for People in the Country Illegally
• Are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the DREAM Act Good for America?
• Sanctuary Cities: Top Pros and Cons

ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA

Natalie Leppard Managing Editor [email protected]

© 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved

• Immigration – Pros & Cons
• Take Action
• History of Path to Citizenship Legislation
• Historical Timeline
• Discussion Questions
• Did You Know?
• DACA and the DREAM Act
• Sanctuary Cities
• US Undocumented Immigrant Population Estimates
• Demographics of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States, 2019
• Illegal Immigration around the World
• Unaccompanied Immigrant Children – Demographic Data

Cite This Page

• Artificial Intelligence
• Private Prisons
• Space Colonization
• Social Media
• Death Penalty
• School Uniforms
• Video Games
• Animal Testing
• Gun Control
• Banned Books
• Teachers’ Corner

ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order):

[Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

[Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Sociology

Essay Samples on Citizenship

What is patriotism: exploring the essence of love for one's country.

Patriotism, a sentiment deeply ingrained in the human spirit, is often described as the love, loyalty, and devotion one feels towards their homeland. It is an emotion that transcends geographical boundaries, uniting individuals under the banner of shared identity and pride. Patriotism has been the...

• Citizenship

Civic Literacy and Its Importance in the 21st Century

Introduction Today, in the 21st century, societies are dependent on the people’s ability to read, hear, write (literacy) and understand the issues of the day. It is a must for the citizens to understand economic issues, laws made by politicians and other problems in order...

Should Illegal Immigrants Become Legal Citizens

Have you ever imagined a world where everyone is treated equally? A world where there are no borders to separate countries, or where everyone is a citizen, living all together as humans with no inequality that could separate them depending on where they are coming...

• Illegal Immigration

Becoming A Good Responsible Citizen In Democratic Society

In what way can leaners’ ability to become active citizens be enhanced? What knowledge, skills and values do they need to possess and flourish as active democratic citizens? The European Economic and Social Committee (2012) defines active citizenship as: the glue that keeps society together…....

• Civil Rights

Values And Responsibilities Of An Active Citizen

Nelson and Kerr (2006) explains active citizenship as being “fundamentally about engagement and participation”. This type of engagement can be either “citizens engaging with the state” (electoral) or “citizens engaging with and among themselves” (civic) (GGLN, 2013, p.12; Annette, 2008). Active citizenship has become one...

• Social Responsibility

Stressed out with your paper?

Consider using writing assistance:

• 100% unique papers
• 3 hrs deadline option

The Rights And Responsibilities Of A Citizen In America

In order to be eligible to vote for any government election, there are requirements that need to be met; being eighteen years old by election day, a citizen of the United States, meeting your state residency requirements, and being registered to vote by your state’s...

• Individual Rights
• Responsibility

Exploring Citizen's Engagement And Responsibilities Of A Citizen

This paper examines in a first place different forms of citizen’s engagement and his responsibilities toward society. In a second place, it discusses the background or the framework of these forms. What is the social role of a citizen? How valid morality could be the...

Ideal Good Citizen In A Totalitarian Government

Why would any person or government suppress its own people? Throughout history, different forms of government have been developed with varying intentions. The leaders in these governments adopt ideologies that may either promote an inclusive government where citizens are involved in the decision making or...

• American Government

Pros And Cons Of Providing Us Citizenship To Central American Refugees

I am torn on what side to pick. I can see both, the positive and negative, on providing automatic U.S. citizenship to Central American children who come to the U.S. by themselves in order to escape violence in their home countries. The negative part about...

• Cultural Identity

Corporate Citizenship in the U.K. and the U.S.

Corporate citizenship is the new social identity supposing an important role in a firm’s life in the U.S. and Europe today. It is not enough for companies to generate a profit. U.S. and European citizens expect them to generate a profit and conduct themselves in...

Birthright Citizenship as the Key Factor of Equality in USA

Birthright Citizenship refers to the law that resulted from the Fourteenth Amendment to the US constitution that took place around 148 years ago. This declares all the children who are born on US soil as legal US citizens. This right is often referred as jus...

Black Opinion on Immigration, Citizenship & the Role of White Supremacy

In Niambi Michele Carter’s book American While Black, she analyzes black responses to immigration, developing a term “conflicted nativism” that she uses to describe black views on immigration and citizenship. This term is developed throughout the book through historical analysis and a case study approach...

• African American History

Discussion of Citizenship Without Equality in Rankine's and Shakespear's Beliefs

At present, our society is facing various social inequalities. A significant problem is discrimination against minorities in the community and workplace. These minorities are neglected and concealed of these inequalities also by the media. Citizenship is crucial to this issue because it has always been...

Literature Review Of Living Conditions Of The Lower-Class Citizens In Hong Kong

Hong Kong is in Eastern Asia; they are southeast of China and southwest of Taiwan. It has a population of 7.4 million people and a size of 2755 km2. Hong Kong is an international financial hub that is extremely crowded so living space is limited....

• Social Class

Best topics on Citizenship

1. What is Patriotism: Exploring the Essence of Love for One’s Country

2. Civic Literacy and Its Importance in the 21st Century

3. Should Illegal Immigrants Become Legal Citizens

4. Becoming A Good Responsible Citizen In Democratic Society

5. Values And Responsibilities Of An Active Citizen

6. The Rights And Responsibilities Of A Citizen In America

7. Exploring Citizen’s Engagement And Responsibilities Of A Citizen

8. Ideal Good Citizen In A Totalitarian Government

9. Pros And Cons Of Providing Us Citizenship To Central American Refugees

10. Corporate Citizenship in the U.K. and the U.S.

11. Birthright Citizenship as the Key Factor of Equality in USA

12. Black Opinion on Immigration, Citizenship & the Role of White Supremacy

13. Discussion of Citizenship Without Equality in Rankine’s and Shakespear’s Beliefs

14. Literature Review Of Living Conditions Of The Lower-Class Citizens In Hong Kong

• Gender Roles
• Gender Stereotypes
• National Honor Society
• Social Media
• Social Change
• Ethnocentrism

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Proving U.S. citizenship

Learn how to get a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. Or prove your U.S. citizenship without a birth certificate if you were born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen.

Get or replace a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization

Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization show proof that someone is a U.S. citizen. Learn how you can get or replace these documents.

Prove your citizenship: born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent

Learn how to prove your U.S. citizenship if you were born without documentation outside the U.S. to a parent who was a U.S. citizen.

Prove your citizenship: born in the U.S with no birth certificate

If you were born in the U.S. and have no birth certificate, learn how to get documentation to prove you are a U.S. citizen.

What is Citizenship?

This essay will define and explore the concept of citizenship. It will discuss its legal, social, and political dimensions, the rights and responsibilities it entails, and how it varies across different nations and cultures. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Citizenship.

How it works

Citizenship can be described as a state of belonging to a particular nationality or country, where one can practice his or her constitutional rights within the country’s jurisdiction. However, citizenship requires more than the sense of belonging to a particular country. It entails several values, roles and responsibilities of a citizen and requires one’s commitment to his or her nationality. This paper will study citizenship and what it means for one to be a good citizen to his or her country.

It will also highlight the roles and responsibilities of a citizen in nation-building and what values good citizenship requires.

Various nations have different structures with regards to their citizenship in different social contexts. However, many structures are similar to others in several aspects. Birth the most assured way of becoming a citizen of a nation. Naturalization and registration can also enable one to be entitled a citizenship of a nation. In the modern day society, one can choose to have a dual citizenship, whereby he or she is recognized by two different nations as its citizen or one can also choose to commit his energy and tie to one nation. Many nations have similar conditions of obtaining citizenship by naturalization and registration. Therefore, it is crucial to note that one cannot obtain a country’s citizenship without some additional values being taken into considerations. One’s contribution to that particular country might be considered at times.

The main value of citizenship is creating positive impacts towards the development of one’s country. It entails engaging in unified activities with other people of the same nationality in an attempt to create a better society, (Sweet, 2006.) However, explanations on citizenship often take a socio-political course. In simple terms, the value of citizenship is closely attached to both social and political responsibilities, (Isin and Turner, 2002.) There are several social and political values that constitute to good citizenship. Many of these values are however dominated by both social and political virtues.

The first value of good citizenship is one’s concern about the welfare of other people, (Davies, Gregory and Riley, 2002.) This is one general point from which other points can be obtained. In simple terms, a good citizen should observe high standards of morals in social life, (Davies, Gregory and Riley, 2002.) An individual being concerned about others means that one will neither get involved nor advocate for violence in cases when there are two or more parties which seem to differ in ideologies. This value further calls for personal involvement in promoting peace and harmony. It also advocates in active participation in social welfares and organizations that champion for equal rights and equal treatment.

A good citizen should be patriotic in nature. However, the term patriotic may attract other definitions but in this case it is used to mean one’s commitment towards in serving his country. Patriotism is a crucial element of good citizenship, (Davies, Gregory and Riley, 2002.) In many cases, patriotism has been explained as the willingness of one to give up all, including his or her life for the sake of his or her country. However, many logical arguments are not often considered in this case. Instead of one being willing to die for his or her country, it could be prudent if patriotism could be seen as the willingness of one to live in order to offer his or her unlimited contribution in nation building. Some citizens often commit large-scale assaults on foreign nations and see their acts as patriotic acts due to this misconception.

Active participation in socio-political activities is also a value in good citizenship, (Konttinen, 2009.) Though, not all socio-political activities amount to good citizenship. For example, fighting particular groups in an attempt to secure political interest is not a sign of good citizenship. A good example of both social and political activities that can amount to good citizenship is voting. Voting is a constitutional right that enables one’s voice to be heard in electing leaders that will represent the interest of the voter. Voting is another way of creating order in a country whereby one’s participation in the exercise enables the establishment of a body that will ensure the peace is upheld and the state of affairs conducted in an orderly manner. Good citizenship creates can be a driving force behind the quest for justice, a matter that calls for the unity of purpose, (Sweet, 2006.)

The purpose of citizenship in a society varies from different social contexts, (Isin and Turner, 2002.) According to Isin and Turner, (2002), citizenship creates a sense of solidarity in the society. It enables the society to come up with a common goal and work in a unified way towards its realization. In simple terms, it helps the society to have a central focus or a common goal. Secondly, citizenship is important in the society as it gives an individual a sense of belonging. In this way, an individual is capable of feeling secure and accomplished as opposed to the feeling of stateless persons, who do not officially belong to a country and have no one to present their grievances to.

The world is slowly turning into a small village with several events unfolding in the world of technology. The world is no longer a vast spherical ball where movement from the East to the West could take long periods of time. This calls for a world citizenship plan, where all people can work in unity towards achieving common goals. This can be ensured by establishing a sovereign force that can effectively execute this plan, (Sweet, 2006.) It is hard to imagine what will be the impact of a united people committed to a common course of making the world a better place for anyone. Many environmental-friendly achievements can be made if the global population unifies its focus to this matter. However, that is almost impossible in the current setting where several groups have all established their own focus. A global unified focus can only be achieved by global citizenship and therefore, global governments should come up with a unified structure on World citizenship in order to create a better world for the quickly upcoming generations.

In conclusion, citizenship is an aspect that entails a variety of values, roles and responsibilities that are meant to hasten the economic growth of the nation. Its unifying nature should be taken advantage of and establish global citizenship in order to unite the world, considering the fact that many attempts have been made. Global citizenship can be helpful in eradicating major environmental problems by establishing a central focus in dealing with these issues. It will also be helpful in unity the global population and hence create a unity of purpose that can help a lot in pursuing issues of concern.

Davies, I., Gregory, I., & Riley, S. (2002). Good citizenship and educational provision. Routledge.

Isin, E. F., & Turner, B. S. (Eds.). (2002). Handbook of citizenship .

Konttinen, A. (Ed.). (2009). Civic mind and good citizenship. University of Tampere.

Sweet, M. E. (2006). Cosmopolitanism: World citizenship and the imagination.

Cite this page

What is Citizenship?. (2019, Mar 04). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/what-is-citizenship/

"What is Citizenship?." PapersOwl.com , 4 Mar 2019, https://papersowl.com/examples/what-is-citizenship/

PapersOwl.com. (2019). What is Citizenship? . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/what-is-citizenship/ [Accessed: 28 Jun. 2024]

"What is Citizenship?." PapersOwl.com, Mar 04, 2019. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/what-is-citizenship/

"What is Citizenship?," PapersOwl.com , 04-Mar-2019. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/what-is-citizenship/. [Accessed: 28-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2019). What is Citizenship? . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/what-is-citizenship/ [Accessed: 28-Jun-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Half a million immigrants could eventually get US citizenship under a sweeping new plan from Biden

President Joe Biden is taking an expansive election year step to offer relief to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status in the U.S.

President Joe Biden has ordered an expansive election-year step to offer relief to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants who don’t have legal status in the U.S. but are married to American citizens.

President Joe Biden has ordered an expansive election year step to offer relief to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status in the U.S. (AP video by Jae Hong and Melissa Perez Winder)

President Joe Biden turns to the others on the dais after speaking during an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

• Copy Link copied

Javier Quiroz Castro gives a hug to President Joe Biden after introducing him at an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden speaks during an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

First lady Jill Biden speaks during an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Javier Quiroz Castro smiles after introducing President Joe Biden at an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden listens as he meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ordered expansive election-year action Tuesday to offer potential citizenship to hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status in the U.S., aiming to balance his recent aggressive crackdown on the southern border that enraged advocates and many Democratic lawmakers.

The president announced that his administration will, in the coming months, allow certain U.S. citizens’ spouses without legal status to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship without having to first depart the country. The action by Biden, a Democrat, could affect upwards of half a million immigrants, according to senior administration officials.

“The Statue of Liberty is not some relic of American history. It still stands for who we are,” Biden said from a crowded East Room at the White House, filled with advocates, congressional Democrats and immigrants who would be eligible for the program. “But I also refuse to believe that for us to continue to be America that embraces immigration, we have to give up securing our border. They’re false choices.”

Biden’s action, which amounts to the most expansive federal protection for immigrants in over a decade, sets up a significant political contrast with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, whose hardline stance on immigration includes a push for mass deportations and rhetoric casting migrants as dangerous criminals “poisoning the blood” of America.

On Tuesday, Biden accused “my predecessor” of preying on fears about immigrants as he chastised Trump administration moves, such as a zero-tolerance policy at the southern border that led to the separation of families. But Trump has leaned into his own policies as Biden has faced disapproval of his handling of immigration throughout his presidency. At a rally in Racine, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, Trump proclaimed, “When I’m reelected, Joe Biden’s illegal amnesty plan will be ripped up and thrown out on the very first day that we’re back in office.”

Because the shadow of a second Trump administration looms over Biden’s new policy, Tuesday’s actions will set off a months-long sprint by Latino organizations to get as many people to apply for the program as possible before next January.

To qualify for Biden’s actions, an immigrant must have lived in the United States for 10 years and be married to a U.S. citizen, both as of Monday. If a qualifying immigrant’s application is approved, he or she would have three years to apply for a green card and receive a temporary work permit and be shielded from deportation in the meantime.

About 50,000 noncitizen children with parents who are married to U.S. citizen could also potentially qualify for the process, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. There is no requirement on how long the couple must have been married, but no one becomes eligible after Monday. That means immigrants who reach that 10-year mark after Monday will not qualify for the program, according to the officials.

Senior administration officials said they anticipate the process will be open for applications by the end of the summer. Fees to apply have yet to be determined.

Biden formally unveiled his plans at a Tuesday event at the White House , which also marked the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, a popular Obama-era directive that offered deportation protections and temporary work permits for young immigrants who lack legal status.

The announcement was welcome news to families with mixed immigration status, such as Antonio and Brenda Valle in Los Angeles. They have been married for nearly 12 years and have two sons who are U.S. citizens, but they have lived with the worry every two years that Brenda Valle’s status as a DACA recipient will not be renewed.

“We can start planning more long-term, for the future, instead of what we can do for the next two years,” she said.

Foday Turay was among those invited to the White House Tuesday for the announcement. He came to the U.S. when he was 10 years old from Sierra Leone, and is now a father to a young son and married to a third-generation U.S. citizen. Although he’s enrolled in DACA and working as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, his status doesn’t provide relief from the constant worry of deportation.

“My wife is tremendously impacted by this,” Turay said Tuesday before the ceremony. “You know, every day she talks to me about what’s going to happen. What if I get deported? You know, how are we going to raise our son? What country are we going to raise him?”

Republicans were making their own sharp contrasts with Biden’s plan. In a likely preview of GOP campaign ads, Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of House Republicans’ campaign arm, called the Biden policy a “mass amnesty plan.” Other Republicans, such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, anticipated that this latest directive would be struck down by the courts.

Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is under consideration to be Trump’s pick for vice president, forcefully advocated for legislation in 2012 that would have offered legal status to young immigrants, but on Tuesday he said “the world is different” now because immigration numbers have risen.

Tuesday’s announcement came two weeks after Biden unveiled a sweeping crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border that effectively halted asylum claims for those arriving between officially designated ports of entry. Immigrant-rights groups have sued the Biden administration over that directive, which a senior administration official said Monday had led to fewer border encounters between ports.

Biden’s allies believe that the approach he is taking with his twin actions on immigration this month will resonate with voters.

“The only party that is being serious about border security is the Democrats. The only party that’s being thoughtful and compassionate about what to do with people who are living in the shadows are the Democrats,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who helped author a bipartisan border bill earlier this year. “The Republican Party has decided to take a walk on border security.”

Among advocates, Gustavo Torres, the executive director of CASA, said Biden’s announcement would energize Latino communities to get out and support him.

“This is what our communities have needed to rally behind President Biden for reelection,” he said.

Biden also announced new regulations that will allow certain DACA beneficiaries and other young immigrants to more easily qualify for long-established work visas. That would allow qualifying immigrants to have protection that is sturdier than the work permits offered by DACA, which is currently facing legal challenges and is no longer taking new applications.

The power that Biden is invoking with his Tuesday announcement for spouses is not a novel one. The policy would expand on authority used by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to allow “parole in place” for family members of military members, said Andrea Flores, a former policy adviser in the Obama and Biden administrations who is now a vice president at FWD.us, an immigration advocacy organization.

The parole-in-place process allows qualifying immigrants to get on the path to U.S. permanent residency without leaving the country, removing a common barrier for those without legal status but married to Americans. Flores called it “the biggest win for the immigrant rights movement since the announcement of DACA 12 years ago.”

The same progressives who were infuriated with Biden’s asylum order praised the president on Tuesday. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who leads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, commended Biden and said the actions would help keep American families together.

“Many Americans would be shocked to hear that when a U.S. citizen marries an undocumented person, their spouse is not automatically eligible for citizenship,” she said. ”Imagine loving someone, marrying them, and then still continuing to fear you would be separated from them.”

Associated Press writers Christine Fernando in Racine, Wis., Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

1 in 10 eligible U.S. voters say they can’t easily show proof of their citizenship

Hansi Lo Wang

MANY US CITIZENS LACK VOTER ID

People wait in line to vote in Georgia's 2022 primary election in Atlanta. Brynn Anderson/AP hide caption

Top Republicans are lining up behind a proposal to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. But for millions of U.S. citizens, it’s not easy to prove their citizenship with a document.

About 1 in 10 adult citizens, or 21.3 million eligible voters, say they either do not have or could not quickly find in order to show the next day their U.S. birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship, according to results released Tuesday from a national survey .

The new findings , shared first with NPR, also show disparities by race, ethnicity and political affiliation.

U.S. citizens of color are more likely than white citizens, who do not identify as Latino, to say they lack citizenship documents (3% of people of color compared to 1% of white people) or can’t readily access them (11% of people of color vs. 8% of white people). Independents are more likely to report that they don’t have documents (4%) compared to Democrats (2%) and Republicans (1%). They are also more likely to report not having ready document access (13%) than Democrats (10%) and Republicans (7%).

The results fall in line with longstanding concerns among many election experts and voting rights advocates, who have warned that proposals — including the new Republican-backed bill in the U.S. House of Representatives — to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when signing up to vote in federal elections could risk keeping eligible voters from casting ballots.

“We've got a huge crisis on our hands when we think about the people who lack the documents required to prove their citizenship and identity. And we really need to think about the far-reaching implications for that when it comes to economic and social and voting access,” says Lauren Kunis, executive director of VoteRiders, a voting rights organization focused on voter ID issues that sponsored the survey alongside groups including the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s law school and the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement.

Republicans aim to stop noncitizen voting in federal elections. It's already illegal

How election officials verify citizenship without documents.

Federal law requires states to accept registration forms that call for applicants to swear under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens and review this warning: “If I have provided false information, I may be fined, imprisoned, or (if not a U.S. citizen) deported from or refused entry to the United States.” Most states also use applicants’ driver’s license or Social Security numbers to check people’s citizenship information in government agency databases.

Still, a group of House Republicans rolled out a bill last month to require all eligible voters to show documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Applicants who cannot provide an acceptable document would be able to sign a sworn statement about their U.S. citizenship and submit “other evidence” to a state official, who would decide whether the applicant has “sufficiently established” citizenship.

While the proposal is unlikely to become law in this divided Congress, the GOP lawmakers say they want to address the rare and illegal practice of non-U.S. citizens casting ballots for federal races — a talking point that former President Donald Trump and his supporters have long boosted.

“We all know intuitively that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections, but it's not been something that is easily provable. We don't have that number,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, at a press conference about the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

Numbers that are available , however, indicate that noncitizens cast ballots in exceedingly small numbers in federal elections.

“By making these requirements more strict, you're more likely to catch people who actually do have the documents or are able to verify their identity but, just because of happenstance or some quirk, are unable to do so at the very moment when they need to in order to vote,” says Bernard Fraga, an associate professor of political science at Emory University, who has researched the impact of voter ID laws .

Republicans in Congress are trying to reshape election maps by excluding noncitizens

Why showing proof of citizenship can be a hurdle.

The latest results from the national survey, which was conducted last September and October, are a reminder that the financial and logistical hurdles to getting a citizenship document or keeping one on hand should not be overlooked, Fraga adds.

“I think that the broader story that we see here is the idea that what for many Americans doesn't seem like that big of an issue — demonstrating that you're a citizen — for some Americans is actually enough of a hurdle to make voting just inaccessible,” Fraga says.

Kunis, VoteRiders’ executive director, says her organization has helped eligible voters overcome a range of barriers to obtaining citizenship documents. They may be stored inside a bank’s safe deposit box or tucked away at a family member’s home in another town or state. Some people may need support navigating a “bureaucratic doom loop” when trying to replace faded certificates, Kunis adds.

And for more than 3.8 million adult citizens, or about 2% of eligible voters, there’s no document to find at all, according to the survey’s estimates. That includes birth certificates.

“Older Americans and Black Americans, particularly in the South, are more likely to have been born outside of a hospital setting, meaning they didn't receive a birth certificate automatically,” Kunis points out.

What is driving these calls for proof of citizenship?

While the survey found that requiring proof of citizenship would likely disproportionately affect historically underrepresented groups, including people of color and political independents, Michael Hanmer, a professor of government and politics, who directs the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, notes that the results also show that these requirements would still affect other groups.

“There's not a whole lot of evidence that, for example, stricter laws about proof of citizenship are going to solve problems with fraud because there really aren't problems with fraud,” Hanmer says. “That leads you to wonder, ‘Well, what might be going on here?’ And if there's political reasons behind it, then our results suggest that that should be rethought because this is not going to just hit one group. It's going to hit everybody.”

In New Hampshire, Republican-led proposals would change the state’s election laws to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote in the state for the first time. Federal courts struck down a similar Kansas state law — which was backed by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican who is the state’s current attorney general and once served as vice chair of Trump’s short-lived voter fraud commission — for violating the 14th Amendment and the National Voter Registration Act .

And there is an ongoing legal fight over Arizona’s now-blocked proof-of-citizenship requirements that ban registered voters who have not provided proof from voting in presidential elections or by mail for any federal office. The Republican National Committee, along with Arizona’s top GOP state lawmakers, are appealing a federal judge’s ruling that found the National Voter Registration Act preempts the state’s restrictions.

With no evidence that noncitizens are voting in numbers significant enough to sway election outcomes, Sean Morales-Doyle — director of the voting rights program at the Brennan Center for Justice, which advocates for expanded voter access — says calls to enact requirements like these are fueled instead by baseless claims of widespread voter fraud from Trump and his allies.

“They're trying to lay the groundwork for the ability to call the outcome into question if they aren't happy about the outcome later,” Morales-Doyle says. “We've seen this playbook before and we're seeing it play out again.”

Edited by Benjamin Swasey

• voting stories

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Create Account

N-400, Application for Naturalization

Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth. Use this form to apply for U.S. citizenship.  Check your eligibility .

File Online  

Check Naturalization Eligibility

Form Details

Form N-400: Use with Adobe Reader (PDF, 753.03 KB)

Instructions for Form N-400 (PDF, 951.34 KB)

G-1151.pdf (PDF, 692.82 KB)

04/01/24 . You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions . 

You generally have 2 options for filing your Form N-400 with USCIS:

• By mail (paper).

Filing Your Form N-400 Online

You must create a USCIS online account to  file your Form N-400 online . Having an online account will also allow you to:

• Pay your filing fee online;
• Check the status of your case;
• Receive notifications and case updates;
• View personalized case completion date estimates;
• Respond to requests for evidence; and
• Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Attorneys and accredited representatives: You may also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all your clients’ applications in one place.

You cannot file online if you are requesting a fee waiver or a reduced fee; you must file a paper Form N-400. 

Filing Your Form N-400 by Mail

If you submit Form N-400 on paper, we will mail you a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice with instructions on how to create an online account to track and manage your case. We will process your application even if you do not create an online account, but we encourage you to create and access your online account. We will continue to mail you copies of notifications about your case. Please check our Direct Filing Addresses for Form N-400 page for information on where to mail your application. Applications that are not submitted to the appropriate direct filing address may experience processing delays.

You may file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , 90 calendar days before you complete your continuous residence requirement if your eligibility for naturalization is based upon being a:

• Permanent resident for at least 5 years; or
• Permanent resident for at least 3 years if you are married to a US citizen.

Please see our USCIS Early Filing Calculator page for additional information. 

You can find the filing fee for Form N-400 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

If you file your Form N-400 by mail (paper), you can pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check or  by credit card  or debit card using  Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions . If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request.  If you pay by credit card or debit card, you cannot later dispute the payment. Use our Fee Calculator to help determine your fee.

If you are submitting multiple forms, pay each filing fee separately. We are transitioning to electronically processing immigration benefit requests, which requires us to use multiple systems to process your package. We may reject your entire package if you submit a single, combined payment for multiple forms.

Did you know? USCIS will automatically extend the validity of your Permanent Resident Card (commonly called a Green Card) for up to 24 months after you properly apply for naturalization. This update is expected to help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive this automatic extension of lawful permanent resident status and may not need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). See more information  here .

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form N-400. The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form.  Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations.

If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Form N-400 Checklist of Required Documents

All applicants must provide (if applicable)

: A copy of your Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card) (both sides) : If you have a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that prevents you from complying with the English language and/or civics requirements for naturalization, submit a completed to request an exception to the English language and/or civics tests.   : Provide current marriage certificate and any divorce decree, annulment decree, or death certificate showing that your prior marriages were terminated (if applicable). :  Documentation of crimes and offenses:   Been arrested or detained for any reason anywhere in the world and NO CHARGES WERE FILED.  Been convicted or placed in an alternative sentence program (such as diversion, deferred prosecution, withheld adjudication, deferred adjudication) or rehabilitative program (including a drug treatment or community service program).  Been arrested or detained for any reason anywhere in the world and CHARGES WERE FILED.  NOTE: If you were sentenced to jail or prison or received an alternative sentence or probation, you must also provide evidence to show that you completed your period of jail, prison, alternative sentence, or probation. Been convicted or placed in an alternative sentence program (such as diversion, deferred prosecution, withheld adjudication, deferred adjudication) or rehabilitative program (including a drug treatment or community service program).  Been convicted and sentenced (including if your sentence was suspended, or you were placed on probation or parole).  Had any arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged, or otherwise removed from your record, or received a pardon.  Been in a traffic incident.  Documentation of traffic incidents only if the incident: Been ordered to pay a fine, make restitution, or have your wages garnished.  If taxes are owed, a signed agreement from the IRS or state or local tax office showing you have filed a tax return and have arranged to pay the taxes you owe; Canceled checks or money order receipts; A court or agency document showing child support payments; Evidence of wage garnishments; or A notarized letter from the parent or guardian who cares for your children. Rent or mortgage statements, or pay statements; Bank, credit card, or loan statements showing regular transactions; Proof of car registration and insurance; Your passport showing entry and exit stamps; IRS tax transcripts; and   Any other document that shows that you maintained your residence in the United States.  Status information letter from the Selective Service; and   A statement regarding your reasons for failing to register.  Provide a court order authorizing the legal guardian or surrogate to exercise authority over the applicant’s affairs; or School records, hospital records, income tax returns (records showing that a person is an authorized representative before the IRS in connection with the applicant's federal tax matters); or Social Security documents (for example, enrollment in the US SSA Representative's Payment Program), or affidavits (written sworn statements from other family members or person who have personal knowledge of the familial relationship between the applicant and the person seeking to represent the applicant indicating the person is responsible for the primary custodial care of the applicant); and Documentation of family relationship if the designated representative is not the legal guardian or surrogate; Form N-648 certified by medical professional of inability to take the Oath. Note: You may also provide a separate attestation from the medical professional but this is not necessary if you are providing the Form N-648 with the information. Any other document that shows that you maintained your residence in the United States. A copy of your marriage certificate; U.S. birth certificate;   Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship; Biographical page of their current U.S. passport; or Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-240). Evidence of termination of all prior marriages for you and your spouse, such as divorce decree(s), annulment(s), and death certificate(s). The employer’s name and nature of the employer’s business; The nature of the work the U.S. citizen spouse is performing; The U.S. government; An American Institution of Research recognized as such by the attorney general (see www.uscis.gov/air); A public international organization in which the United States participates by treaty or statute; An American firm or corporation that is engaged in whole or in part in the development of U.S. foreign trade and commerce; or A religious denomination or an interdenominational mission organization and your spouse is performing the ministerial or priestly functions of the religious denomination or is serving as a missionary, brother, nun, or sister for the religious denomination or interdenominational mission. Your U.S. citizen spouse’s travel orders which include your name as a spouse (if applicable); Documentation to establish your spouse’s qualified employment outside the U.S. is scheduled to last for at least 1 year from the date you file Form N-400; and A typed or printed statement of your intent to reside outside the U.S. with your spouse and to live in the U.S. immediately after your spouse’s qualified employment outside the U.S. ends. Documentation you are authorized to accompany the member under the member’s official orders; Documentation of military service of the member of the U.S. armed forces; and Two passport-style photographs (if you reside outside the United States)  Evidence of the spouse’s U.S. citizenship; Evidence of marriage to the U.S. citizen (VAWA applicants do not have to still be married to the U.S. citizen at the time of filing the naturalization application); and Divorce or separation or marital union is not required if you obtained LPR status as the spouse, former spouse, or intended spouse of a U.S. citizen who subjected you to battery or extreme cruelty. Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service (if currently serving in the U.S. armed forces); DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or discharge orders (if separated from the U.S. armed forces); A copy of your official military orders (if applicable); Two passport-style photographs (if you reside outside the United States); and No documentation of continuous residence or physical presence necessary if currently serving during a designated period of hostilities. You cannot file online if you are requesting a fee waiver or a reduced fee; you must file a paper Form N-400. Select “No” in Part 10, Item Number 1 Skip to Part 11 Submit $760 if filing by paper, or $710 if filing online Select “Yes” in Part 10, Item Number 1 Complete the rest of Part 10 Submit $380 and documentation to support the reduced fee You are not required to complete Part 10, Item Number 1. Do not submit a fee, and instead submit a properly completed Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver , or written request, and documentation to support the fee waiver request. Filing Tips:  Review our  Tips for Filing Forms by Mail  page for information on how to ensure we will accept your form. Don’t forget to sign your form.  We will reject any unsigned form. E-Notification: If you want to receive an email and/or text message that we have accepted your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance , and clip it to the first page of your form. Biometrics : Applicants who file Form N-400 must generally submit biometrics unless we waive the requirement. An applicant who is required to appear at an application support center (ASC) to submit biometrics will receive a notice of their scheduled appointment. If we determine you are eligible for naturalization, we may use the photograph taken at the ASC on your Certificate of Naturalization. Therefore, we recommend that, on the day of your ASC appointment, you dress in clothing that is acceptable for display on your Certificate of Naturalization. We will not reject a photograph based solely on your desire to modify the photograph shown on your certificate. Photographs : Based on processing needs, you may need to submit physical passport photographs after you have already filed your Form N-400. We will send you a request for physical photographs with instructions on how to submit them. Attorney or representative : You may be represented, at no expense to the U.S. government, by an attorney or other duly authorized or accredited representative. Your representative must submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative , with your Form N-400. They may also submit Form G-28 at the time of your interview. Lost or Expiring Permanent Resident Card (Green Card): Effective Dec. 12, 2022, after you properly file Form N-400, you will receive a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends your Green Card for 2 years from the “Card Expires” date on your Green Card. This notice will serve as proof that we have extended your Green Card, which is evidence of your lawful permanent resident status. The notice should be presented together with your Green Card. If you lose your Green Card, you generally must still file Form I-90 even if you have applied for naturalization. If you have a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends the validity of your Green Card, but your notice has been destroyed or lost, then you generally must file Form I-90 to renew your expiring Green Card. Biometrics for Service Members We will review your application and conduct required background and security checks, which may include you providing us with your fingerprints. This can be done in 1 of these ways: If you were fingerprinted for a previous immigration application, we will use these fingerprints, if available. If you are stationed outside the United States, you may submit 2 properly completed FD-258 fingerprint cards and 2 passport-style photos taken by the military police or officials with the Department of Homeland Security at a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate. You may also submit your fingerprints at an application support center before or after you file your Form N-400. Be sure to include your A-Number and show your unexpired military ID card or Delayed Entry Program ID card. If you have case specific questions, you may contact the  Military Help Line  at 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645, TTY: 800-877-8339) or  [email protected] . Learn About Citizenship Citizenship Resource Center Citizenship and Naturalization How Do I Apply for Citizenship? (PDF, 2.21 MB) A Guide to Naturalization Citizenship Tools and Resources USCIS Early Filing Calculator Practice Civics Test Preparing for the Oath Eligible to Naturalize Fact Sheets Fact Sheets Promoting Citizenship File Online How to Create a USCIS Online Account Tips for Filing Forms Online Online Filing for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives Paying with a Credit Card Pay Your N-400 Application Fee with Your Credit Card Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions Prepare for the Interview and Test The Naturalization Interview and Test Study for the Test Check for Test Updates Citizenship Multilingual Resources Filing Tips and Guidance Federal Poverty Guidelines Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request  Free Adobe Reader to view, print, or complete forms Policy and Guidance USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Citizenship and Naturalization Guidance: Group Processing Events Form N-400 Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 229.25 KB) Advertisement Supported by Biden to Give Legal Protections to Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens Undocumented spouses of American citizens will be shielded from deportation, provided work permits and given a pathway to citizenship, according to officials briefed on the plan. Share full article By Zolan Kanno-Youngs Reporting from Washington President Biden on Tuesday will announce sweeping new protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have been living in the United States illegally for years but are married to American citizens, officials familiar with the plan said. Mr. Biden will detail the policy at the White House on Tuesday while marking the 12-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which protects people who came to the United States as children from deportation, the officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a policy that had not been formally announced. Under the policy, undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens will be shielded from deportation, provided work permits and given a pathway to citizenship. Officials briefed on the conversations said it could affect up to 500,000 undocumented spouses, although the exact scale of the program remained unclear. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Marrying an American citizen generally provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship. But people who crossed the southern border illegally — rather than arriving in the country with a visa — must return to their home countries to complete the process for a green card. That means long separations from their spouses and families. The new program would allow families to remain in the country while they pursue legal status. Officials briefed on the discussions said the announcement could amount to the most sweeping unilateral move by a president to provide relief to unauthorized immigrants since President Barack Obama implemented DACA. In a separate move on Tuesday, Mr. Biden is also expected to announce new ways to help people in DACA, known as Dreamers, gain access to work visas. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . We've detected unusual activity from your computer network To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot. Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy . For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below. 339 IMAGES Citizenship in the nation Government policies on citizenship Essay Example Citizenship Essay Citizenship education Essay Example Citizenship US essay 1 Citizenship in the United States VIDEO US citizenship test -1 💪How many questions can you answer correctly? Comment your score below #quiz Learning About Citizenship 3 US Citizenship Interview 2024 citizenship amendment act essay| essay on citizenship amendment act US Citizenship interview Top Easiest Countries To Obtain Citizenship COMMENTS The Complicated Truth About What U.S. Citizenship Means Citizenship is both an idea and an ideal, the journey from one to the other a measure of the nation's progress. I wish this journey could be taken in a giant leap, even as I fear it will be ... Apply for Citizenship Apply for U.S. citizenship by submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. This form is available to file online . There are exceptions and modifications to the naturalization requirements that are available to those who qualify. USCIS also provides accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Get or replace a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Get a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization Certificate of Citizenship. You can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship to prove you are a U.S. citizen if: You were born abroad to parents who were U.S. citizens, and; Your parents did not get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for you before you turned 18; Certificate of ... Become a U.S. citizen through naturalization This video shows you what takes place during a naturalization interview and helps you prepare for it. For most people, one of the requirements during the interview is taking the 2008 U.S. naturalization test. The test has two parts: a civics test (U.S. history and government) and an English test. Find study resources for the test: U.S. citizenship Renouncing and losing your citizenship both result in no longer being a U.S. citizen. Learn how to voluntarily renounce your citizenship or how you might involuntarily lose it. Find out how to become a U.S. citizen through naturalization. See how to prove U.S. citizenship, get dual citizenship, or renounce or lose your citizenship. USCIS Get two passport-style photos taken. Collect all the documents and evidence you will need to complete your application. Fill out your application. Review your work and correct any mistakes. Submit your application, two photos, documents and evidence, and the required fees. Find out where to file your application. Naturalization Records After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a "declaration of intention" ("first papers") to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization" ("second papers"). After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the new citizen. These two steps ... US Citizenship Practice Test Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance. 1. Give up loyalty to other countries and defend the (U.S.) Constitution. 2. Be free to express yourself and not cause trouble. 3. Serve in the military and bear arms. 4. Handout A Ratified in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides the legal definition of U.S. citizenship, stating, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside.". For purposes of this study, we will use the ... Citizenship of the United States United States nationality gives the right to acquire a United States passport. The one shown above is a post-2007 issued passport. A passport is commonly used as an identity document and as proof of citizenship.. Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. Background Essay: Rights, Equality, and Citizenship The principle of equality means that all individuals have the same status regarding their claim to natural rights and treatment before the law. Our definition of citizenship has expanded throughout American history, most often through claims to our natural equality. The story of women's suffrage is an example of the patience, determination ... The Meanings of Citizenship The last great periods of attentiveness to citizenship in the United States occurred amid the massive immigration of the turn of the century and again in the late ... This essay was delivered as the presidential address at the annual meeting of the Organization of American His-torians in San Francisco, April 19, 1997. Linda K. Kerber is May ... Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments Mass Deportations. Economic Burden. Terrorist Threat. Disadvantage American Workers. Higher Crime. 1. Path to Citizenship - Overview. "There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States. It is unrealistic and inhumane to deport these individuals from their families and lives in the United States. Citizenship Essays: Samples & Topics Pros And Cons Of Providing Us Citizenship To Central American Refugees. 10. Corporate Citizenship in the U.K. and the U.S. 11. Birthright Citizenship as the Key Factor of Equality in USA. 12. Black Opinion on Immigration, Citizenship & the Role of White Supremacy. 13. Discussion of Citizenship Without Equality in Rankine's and Shakespear's ... Proving U.S. citizenship Prove your citizenship: born in the U.S with no birth certificate. If you were born in the U.S. and have no birth certificate, learn how to get documentation to prove you are a U.S. citizen. Learn how to get or replace Certificates of Citizenship or Naturalization. Find out how to prove your U.S. citizenship without a birth certificate. Application for Certificate of Citizenship Use this form to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. ... If you reside in the United States, you will receive an appointment at a local application support center (ASC) to take your photographs. Filing Fee. You can find the filing fee for Form N-600 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. Citizenship Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas 65 essay samples found. Citizenship refers to the status of being a member of a particular nation or state, encompassing rights, duties, and privileges. Essays on this topic might explore the different dimensions of citizenship, including legal, social, and political aspects, and how they are manifested in various countries. Moreover ... What is Citizenship? This essay will define and explore the concept of citizenship. It will discuss its legal, social, and political dimensions, the rights and responsibilities it entails, and how it varies across different nations and cultures. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Citizenship. Citizenship Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines Citizenship Civics Education for 21st. PAGES 10 WORDS 2896. Connected vs. Stand-alone. Communication revolution has moved from a world connected by telephone (a synchronous and asynchronous) including e-mail, bulletin boards, broadcast messages and chat rooms. As a result, new learning tools have developed to access knowledge. Active vs. Passive. Citizenship Essay Essay on Citizenship The word citizenship contains a vast amount of varying interpretations, with the most common being the definition defined by the government. Another common interpretation is that it is a position granted to those lucky enough to be legally allowed to live in a country. 10 Steps to Naturalization Determine if you are already a U.S. citizen. Step 2. Determine if you are eligible to become a U.S. citizen. Step 3. Prepare your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Step 4. Submit your Form N-400 and pay your fees. Step 5. Go to your biometrics appointment, if applicable. Half a Million Immigrants Could Eventually Get US Citizenship Under a WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ordered expansive election-year action Tuesday to offer potential citizenship to hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status in the U.S ... New Biden plan could offer half a million immigrants US citizenship WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ordered expansive election-year action Tuesday to offer potential citizenship to hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status in the U.S., aiming to balance his recent aggressive crackdown on the southern border that enraged advocates and many Democratic lawmakers. The president announced that his administration will, in the coming months ... Citizenship and Naturalization Citizenship and Naturalization. Citizenship is a unique bond that unites people around civic ideals and a belief in the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Deciding to become a U.S. citizen is one of the most important decisions an immigrant can make. Depending on your situation, there may be different ways to obtain ... Citizenship proof isn't easy for 1 in 10 eligible U.S. voters : NPR An estimated 21.3 million adult U.S. citizens don't have or can't easily access documents proving their citizenship. The findings raise concerns about requiring proof when registering eligible voters. Application for Naturalization N-400, Application for Naturalization. Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth. Use this form to apply for U.S. citizenship. Check your eligibility. File Online. Biden to Give Legal Protections to Undocumented Spouses of U.S Undocumented spouses of American citizens will be shielded from deportation, provided work permits and given a pathway to citizenship, according to officials briefed on the plan. Over 500,000 Immigrants to Get US Legal Status in New Biden Policy President Joe Biden announced a streamlined path to legal status for more than 500,000 immigrants, launching his broadest effort yet to offer deportation protections while trying to blunt ... assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis