9781422282700

Chapter One

CITIZENSHIP

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Words to Understand

citizenship: formal recognition that an individual is a member of a political community. democracy: a political system in which citizens hold all or most political power. dual citizenship: being a full citizen of two or more countries. felon: someone who has been convicted of a serious crime (a felony), such as murder, burglary, kidnapping, and treason. naturalization: the legal process by which a resident noncitizen becomes a citizen of a country. treason: the betrayal of one’s country.

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G overnments typically divide their population into two groups, citizens and noncitizens. A citizen is a formal member of a political system, such as a country, state, or province, or even a city or town. Citizenship confers both rights and responsibilities on individuals. Citizens owe their loyalty to their government, and in exchange for that allegiance, they receive a range of benefits. They are also

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