citizenship summary

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Below is the article summary. For the full article, see citizenship.

citizenship, Relationship between an individual and a state in which the individual owes allegiance to the state and in turn is entitled to its protection. In general, full political rights, including the right to vote and to hold public office, are predicated on citizenship. Citizenship entails obligations, usually including allegiance, payment of taxes, and military service. The concept arose in ancient Greece, where citizenship was granted only to property owners. The Romans initially used it as a privilege to be conferred upon or withheld from conquered peoples, but it was granted to all the empire’s free inhabitants in ad 212. The concept disappeared in Europe during the feudal era but was revived in the Renaissance. Citizenship may normally be gained by birth within a certain territory, descent from a parent who is a citizen, marriage to a citizen, or naturalization. See also nationality.

alien Summary

Alien, in national and international law, a foreign-born resident who is not a citizen by virtue of parentage or naturalization and who is still a citizen or subject of another country. In early times, the tendency was to look upon the alien as an enemy and to treat him as a criminal or outlaw.

refugee Summary

Refugee, any uprooted, homeless, involuntary migrant who has crossed a frontier and no longer possesses the protection of his or her former government. Prior to the 19th century the movement from one country to another did not require passports and visas; the right to asylum was commonly recognized

Oliver Ellsworth Summary

Oliver Ellsworth was an American statesman and jurist, chief author of the 1789 act establishing the U.S. federal court system. He was the third chief justice of the United States. (Read Britannica’s biography of this author, President John Kennedy.) Ellsworth attended Yale and the College of New

Caracalla Summary

Caracalla was a Roman emperor, ruling jointly with his father, Septimius Severus, from 198 to 211 and then alone from 211 until his assassination in 217. His principal achievements were his colossal baths in Rome and his edict of 212, giving Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire.