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AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 101

WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF BEING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN?

• My ideas• Rights Freedoms• Protection• A voice – VOTE• Education

• Right to vote• Ability to run for political office• Federal job opportunities• International assistance and protection / US

passport.• Protection of all rights and freedoms granted in the

US Constitution.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• My ideas:• Loyal• Pay taxes• Serve your community• Obey laws

• Give up prior allegiances and agree to support the US Constitution.

• VOTE and participate in government.• Serve on a jury• Attend school until the age of 16.• Be informed of current issues• Pay taxes• Abide by all laws

TERMS

• Citizen – an official member of a community with government and laws

• Non-Citizen – an unofficial member of a community with government and laws.

• Alien – a person who resides in a country (permanently or temporarily). Citizen of original country.

• Immigrant – a person who comes to the US with the intention of living there permanently.

• Legal - Have permanent resident status (green card)• Illegal – without permission and knowledge of

government.

DONE

• For today………………………..

LEGAL VS. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

• Legal immigrants have permanent residency; they have been given green cards.• Only legal immigrants can being the process of

naturalization• Legal immigrants usually come to the US in one

of three ways;• Family member sponsorship• Employment opportunities• Refuge/Asylum

METHODS OF OBTAINING CITIZENSHIP

• Birth• 14th amendment• “all persons born or naturalized in the US are citizens of

the US and the states where they reside”

• Naturalization Process – the process by which a non-citizen becomes a citizen. • Congress• Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4

NATURALIZATION PROCESS

• Must be a permanent resident for 5 years• $985

• Complete an application for naturalization and send to the Immigration and Services Office.• Fingerprinted for background checks.• Interviewed by the US Citizenship and

Immigration Services Office.• Background information• Good moral character• Principals & ideals of US Constitution• Willingness to take and oath

NATURALIZATION PROCESS

• English test – read, speak, write• Civics & History Test• Must get 6 out of 10 right

2 QUESTIONS

• Please write 2 questions that you think should be on a U.S. Citizenship test.