Nationality or United States citizenship is the status of a natural person as a legal member of the United States. It implies rights, privileges, immunities and economic benefits including federal assistance. According to the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution Citizenship Clause, a person is a United States citizen automatically at birth in the United States, by being born in another country as a child of American parents or grandparents or having been born in another country through a process of nationalization.
American nationality is not defined by the obligation to participate in politics, pay taxes, obey laws, serve in the military, or vote in elections, although citizens can participate in politics or enlist in the military if they wish , but rather nationality is a legal link that identifies a person with a set of rights, including the right to live and work in the United States, as well as receiving government services.
Not all people with US citizenship are US citizens. Persons born or descendants of persons born in "foreign possessions" are nationals but not citizens of the United States. Currently these territories are American Samoa and Swains Island. Puerto Rico had such status until 1917, the Virgin Islands until 1927 and Guam until 1950, since then those born there and their descendants are also citizens of the United States. The Philippines had that status until 1946, after which it became independent from the United States.
People with United States citizenship have the right to reside and work anywhere in the United States. They can also obtain a US passport. However, they can not participate in elections as voters or as candidates. American nationals can be naturalized in the same way as foreigners.
