Who Are America

1
Who Are Americas Citizens?

• Mr. Folkersma
• Civics
• Sault Area High School

2
Path to Citizenship

• Naturalization
• Foreign-born people who choose to become
  citizens, by a legal process
• Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

3
Citizenship by Birth

• If you were born in
• Any of the 50 states
• District of Columbia
• Puerto Rico or Guam
• U.S. Military Base
• Or if your parents are American Citizens

4
Key Terms

• Aliens
• People who live in the U.S. without permission.
• Millions of people
• Immigrants
• People who move permanently to a new country
• More than 500,000 become citizens each year

5
The Naturalization Process

• Beginning the Process
• Sign a statement to start the process
• Interview and Examination
• Must take a citizenship test
• Oath of Allegiance
• If application is granted, final ceremony

6
Native Americans

• For a long time Native Americans could not become
  U.S. citizens.
• In 1924 Congress passed a law allowing all Native
  Americans of U.S. to become citizens.

7
A Lifelong Privilege

• Deny
• If you are a convicted criminal some or your
  rights can be taken away.
• Denaturalization
• Loss of citizenship through fraud or deception
  for people who became naturalized citizens only.
• Native-born U.S. citizens can only lose
  citizenship by own choice.

8

• Expatriation
• Giving up ones citizenship by leaving ones
  native country to live in another country.
• Involuntary expatriation
• When parents of young children leave for another
  country.

9
Aliens in America

• Illegal Aliens
• Approximately 12 million are living in the United
  States.
• Many come for a better life and more importantly
  work.
• Can be deported within 24 hours of being caught

10
Legal Aliens

• Citizens of other countries who live in the
  U.S.A. legally
• Allowed to
• Live normal lives
• Have a job
• Own property
• Attend public schools
• Pay taxes
• Legal protection
• Cant Vote or work in government jobs.

11
Questions

• What is dual citizenship? How can an American
  obtain dual citizenship?
• Answer
• Dual citizenship is when a person has U.S.
  rights as well as rights of another country. A
  child who is born in a foreign country to
  American citizens may obtain dual citizenship.

12
Questions

• 2. If you were a government official, how would
  you prevent illegal aliens from entering the
  United States?