Who is an American Citizen?

A citizen is a member of a nation or political community, who owes allegiance to that nation and is in turn entitled to benefits and protection from that nation or community. Citizens can be either born or made. Children born in the United States are automatically U.S. citizens. Also, children born outside of the country, whose mother and father are both American citizens, are U.S. Citizens Children born to one citizen and one non-citizen automatically become citizens if their non-citizen parent is naturalized.

Those not born in the U.S. can become citizens through a process called naturalization. People who wish to become naturalized citizens must be adult (at least 18 years of age), and be residents of the U.S. for at least five years. Today, immigrants to the United States who wish to become citizens are also required to pass a test demonstrating their familiarity with American government and swear allegiance to the U.S. They are also required to demonstrate some familiarity with the English language.