American Government Reflections

Chapter 15: Protecting Civil Rights

Citizenship
Today there are three ways to become a citizen of the U.S. though the framers did not
specifically define citizenship in the Constitution. The first way is by birth. First, if the person is
born to at least one U.S. citizen then they can become a U.S. citizen. This is called jus sanguinis
or law of the blood. The second way a person can become a citizen is if the person is born in the
U.S. or in a U.S. territory. This is called jus soli or law of the soil. Finally, a person can become a
citizen through a process called naturalization. First, the individual must enter the country legally
and prove that they can do the following: support themselves financially, read and write, do not
have any mental illnesses, certain diseases, drug addiction, or criminal past, and do not want to
overthrow the government. I think this is important because this means that the U.S. does not
admit individuals that could be hazardous to the public's safety. Additionally, they must complete
a declaration of intention, and must meet the following requirements, before applying for
citizenship: they individual must have been a lawful resident of this country continuously for at
least five years and be physically present for half the period, three if married to a U.S. citizen, be
at least 18 years old, complete a citizenship application, is able to speak, read, and write English,
has good moral character, belief in the Constitution, and is knowledgeable about the government
and history, supports Oder and happiness in the U.S., and takes an oath of allegiance at a
swearing in ceremony. I think that the citizenship process is extremely lengthy. Is there any way
that it could be redesigned? Should the U.S. limit the number of citizens it accepts? I also found
that the loss of citizenship occurs rarely and there are restrictions on what causes a person to lose
their citizenship. I think that losing citizenship should be hard to do as this ensures that the
government cannot revoke a citizenship whenever they feel or when a person does not show
support for some of the government's actions. This limitation on actions that require the loss of
citizenship helps protect a person's rights.
Immigration: Diversity and Equal Protection
Most people in the U.S. are descended from immigrants or are immigrants themselves. In the
early years of the country, immigration was unrestricted and there were few immigration rules.
However, competition for jobs and differences in culture and language caused tensions and
increased the limitations and restrictions on immigration. Today, restrictions are placed on how
many immigrants can enter the U.S. depending on where they are from. I think this helps control
the flow of immigration and makes it easier for the government agencies to manage the number
of people that want to immigrate to the U.S. However, not all borders can be constantly
monitored and a growing problem in the U.S. has been illegal immigration. I know that many
illegal immigrants come over the border to find more opportunity for jobs and a better life and
face many challenges and hardships. Many illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico
face environmental challenges and many die before they even reach the border. If they do
manage to cross the border, they must avoid discovery to remain in the country or they will be
deported. Immigrants also face prejudice and discrimination. I believe that the illegal immigrants
should be deported if caught because they did not come into the U.S. legally and should try to
become citizens legally if they plan to stay in the U.S. A positive side to immigration is that it
brings more diversity and different experiences to the U.S. This allows citizens to experience
parts of various different cultures without having to travel to other countries and enriches
learning.

Struggle for Civil Rights

Civil rights are powers and privileges that governments grant to individuals to guarantee
equal treatment. The courts have suspect classifications to determine if something violates the
Equal Protection Clause and laws also must undergo a rational based test. For many years, after
the Civil War, many minority groups still did not have equal rights with whites. They were
deemed separate, but equal under the Jim Crow laws and were segregated. De jure segregation
became the policy in the South and it was evident that the treatment was not the same. This lead
to the civil rights movement. I do not think that the Jim Crow laws should have been allowed to
be put into effect as they are unconstitutional and deny African Americans in particular of their
rights. They violate the basic rights of the people stated in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Today, though there is no more de jure segregation, a separation of races still seems to continue
through de facto segregation where many neighborhoods and schools are primarily white,
African American, or other ethnicities. I think that the neighborhoods and schools should try to
integrate more as it will expose students and communities to others experiences and enrich their
understanding of the world.