Citizenship status in the United States means that individuals are legal members of the country. Citizenship is associated with rights and privileges guaranteed by the U.S. government and also encompasses the expectation that citizens fulfill required duties in service of the country (e.g., registering for the military draft, paying taxes, and serving on juries). When the U.S. Constitution was ratified, a clause in Article I granted Congress the power to establish rules regarding the naturalization process, but did not specifically define who could be a citizen in the United States.
Accordingly, citizenship has been been defined over time through acts of Congress and the Courts. The 14th Amendment, for example, granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. Before the Civil War, African American slaves were not recognized as citizens. Additionally, the late 19th century is characterized by restrictions on Asian immigration via the Chinese Exclusion act, and during World War II, Japanese Americans' rights as U.S. citizens were restricted due to fears associated with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although citizenship has become more inclusive over the course of U.S. history, immigration privileges and individual’s rights to obtain citizenship through naturalization, are continually being shaped by congressional law. The ongoing significance of this issue is evidenced by the continued debate regarding immigration reform that occurs during each election cycle.
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