This essay is on what it means to be a citizen of the United States.

What does it mean to be a citizen of the United States?

I would define a citizen as someone, who was born in, or to a certain place, who is guaranteed certain rights in the place that they were born in.

Citizenship in the United States means that a person is a legally recognized member of the nation. Each citizen has equal rights under the law. All citizens have certain rights, privileges, and responsibilities.

Americans who are not citizens have many of the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of citizens. However, they do not have such important rights as the right to vote in elections, serve on juries, or hold elected office.

means that a person is recognized as a legal member of the nation

gives each person certain rights and privileges, e.g., the right to vote and to hold public office

means each person has certain responsibilities, e.g., respecting the law, voting, paying taxes, serving on juries

explain that citizens owe allegiance or loyalty to the United States; in turn they receive protection and other services from the government

Nothing is more important to America than citizenship; there is more assurance of our future in the individual character of our citizens than in any proposal I, and all the wise advisers I can gather, can ever put into effect in Washington.

Warren G. Harding (1920)

Rights of individuals. Citizens have rights.

personal rights, e.g., to associate with whomever one pleases, live where one chooses, practice the religion of one's choice, travel freely and return to the United States, emigrate

political rights, e.g., to vote, speak freely and criticize the government, join organizations that try to influence government policies, join a political party, seek and hold public office

economic rights, e.g., to own property, choose one's work, change employment, join a labor union, establish a business

Citizens not only must be aware of their rights, they must also exercise them responsibly and they must fulfill those responsibilities necessary to a self-governing, free, and just society.

No governmental action, no economic doctrine, no economic plan or project can replace that God-imposed responsibility of the individual man and woman to their neighbors.

Herbert Hoover (1931)

Citizens have rights. personal responsibilities, e.g., taking care of themselves, accepting responsibility for the consequences of their actions, taking advantage of the opportunity to be educated, supporting their families

civic responsibilities, e.g., obeying the law, respecting the rights of others, being informed and attentive to the needs of their community, paying attention to how well their elected leaders are doing their jobs, communicating with their representatives in their school, local, state, and national governments, voting, paying taxes, serving on juries, serving in the armed forces