I am an American. What does that mean these days? How can you define yourself as a citizen of the United States of America? Does it have to do with what you do in life? Does it have to do with where you came from? Does it have to do with an attitude you have to have? Does it have to do with how much money you have or does it have to do with what privileges you have?

Let’s answer a few of questions first. How do you become a United States citizen? You were born in the United States of America which includes her states, commonwealths and territories. Or you became a Naturalized Citizen. “NATURALIZED CITIZEN – One who, being born an alien, has lawfully become a citizen of the United States Under the constitution and laws. He has all the rights of a natural born citizen, except that of being eligible as president or vice-president of the United States. In foreign countries he has a right to be treated as such, and will be so considered even in the country of his birth, at least for most purposes.” (quoted from The ‘Lectric Law Library’s Lexicon ) Okay, we have now answer how you become an United States citizen but what does that mean? What rights to you have as an United States Citizen?

Many people will point to the Declaration of Independence as say that our rights are protected there. The Declaration of Independence does not do this nor does it define any rights; nor is it a legal document of the United States of America.

By the definition of citizen we are given some rights: This is the definition of Citizen of the United States as defined in Bouvier’s Law Dictionary of 1856:

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. 1687 Bouv. Inst. Index, b. t.; 2 Kent, Com. 258; 4 Johns. Ch. R. 430; Vatt. B. 1, c. Id, 212; Poth. Des Personnes, tit. 2, s. 1. Vide Body Politic; Inhabitant.

As you can see there are rights define in just the definition. Some have changed and are no longer valid such as having to be “white” to have citizenship. Now that we have discussed how you become a citizen and what a citizen is, we can discuss what it means to be a citizen. I will be covering that in my next entry.