The boy scouts of America/citizenship - Essay Example

They also define the duties the citizens of that nation have towards the nation-state. This aspect of citizenship is especially important in discussions concerning immigration. The status of citizen is very important, especially in the modern social democracies of Europe. Citizenship entitles you to generous benefits such as free health care, nationalized health care and government mandated vacation time. Becoming a legal citizen of these countries is the dream of many immigrants coming from Africa and Southwest Asia.

But the legal structures in these countries prevent most immigrants from ever becoming citizens of the nations in which they reside. They are prevented from full citizenship because offering citizenship to all would be a tremendous burden upon the state sponsored benefits mentioned. Aside from these benefits, political representation in a democracy is not available to any individuals or groups that are not citizens. The privilege of the vote is extended only to citizens in a democracy. This is another reason that large blocks of immigrants are sometimes denied the ability to be citizens in the nations where they reside.

In addition to the legal benefits offered by nations, there are legal requirements of all citizens. Paying the required taxes is a duty of citizens in nearly all nations. Again, immigration becomes an issue in this portion of legal citizenship. Some Americans feel that illegal immigrants are a burden on state run systems such a public schools and community hospitals because they utilize these services but pay no taxes to support their operations. Other obligations American citizens are expected to fulfil in addition to paying taxes is they are expected to uphold and obey the law, they are expected to be loyal to the government of the elected government of the United States even if they do not agree with the methods or political standing of that