Citizen
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citizen
n. person who by place of birth, nationality of one or both parents, or by going through the naturalization process has sworn loyalty to a nation. The United States has traditionally taken the position that an American citizen is subject to losing his/her citizenship if he/she commits acts showing loyalty to another country, including serving in armed forces potentially unfriendly to the United States, or voting in a foreign county. However, if the foreign nation recognizes dual citizenship (Canada, Israel, and Ireland are common examples) the U. S. will overlook this duality of nationalities.
CITIZEN, persons. One who, under the constitution and laws of the United
States, has a right to vote for representatives in congress, and other
public officers, and who is qualified to fill offices in the gift of the
people. In a more extended sense, under the word citizen, are included all
white persons born in the United States, and naturalized persons born out of
the same, who have not lost their right as such. This includes men, women,
and children.
2. Citizens are either native born or naturalized. Native citizens may
fill any office; naturalized citizens may be elected or appointed to any
office under the constitution of the United States, except the office of
president and vice-president. The constitution provides, that "the citizens
of each state shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of
citizens in the several states." Art. 4, s. 2.
3. All natives are not citizens of the United States; the descendants
of the aborigines, and those of African origin, are not entitled to the
rights of citizens. Anterior to the adoption of the constitution of the
United States, each state had the right to make citizens of such persons as
it pleased. That constitution does not authorize any but white persons to
become citizens of the United States; and it must therefore be presumed that
no one is a citizen who is not white. 1 Litt. R. 334; 10 Conn. R. 340; 1
Meigs, R. 331.
4. A citizen of the United States, residing in any state of the Union,
is a citizen of that state. 6 Pet. 761 Paine, 594;1 Brock. 391; 1 Paige, 183
Metc. & Perk. Dig. h.t.; vide 3 Story's Const. Sec. 1687 Bouv. Inst. Index,
b. t.; 2 Kent, Com. 258; 4 Johns. Ch. R. 430; Vatt. B. 1, c. Id, Sec. 212;
Poth. Des Personnes, tit. 2, s. 1. Vide Body Politic; Inhabitant.