Word of the Day
February 27, 2025
Naturalization
The legal process by which a non-citizen becomes a citizen of a country. In the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8), Congress is given the exclusive power to establish uniform rules of naturalization.
From Latin 'naturalis' (of nature, according to nature) + '-ization' (process of making). First used in English in the 1550s to describe the act of conferring citizenship rights.
Usage Examples
- Congress's naturalization power allows it to set policy on who may join the American political community.
- The naturalization process requires applicants to demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government.
- Through naturalization, immigrants make a conscious choice to become American citizens and renounce foreign allegiances.
From the Show
Constitutional attorney John Eastman explained how the naturalization power is central to understanding birthright citizenship. Article I gives Congress policy authority over who joins the American political community, establishing that citizenship requires mutual consent rather than automatic conferral by birth location alone.