citizen

A citizen, in the popular and appropriate sense of the term, is one who by birth, naturalization or otherwise Is a member of an independent political society called a state, kingdom or empire, and as such is subject to its laws and entitled to its protection in all his rights incident to that relation. 177 111. 258; 113 III. 64. In English Law. An inhabitant of a city. 1 Eolle, Abr. 138. The representative of a city, in parliament. 1 Bl. Comm. 174. In American Law. One who, under the constitution and laws of the United States, has a right to vote for public oificers, One of the sovereign people; a constituent member of the sovereignty, synonymous ■with the people. 19 How. (U; S.) 404. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." Const. U. S. Amend. XIV.

In general. A member of a free city or jural society, (civitas,) possessing all the righis and privileges which can be enjoyed by any person under its constitution and government, and subject to the corresponding duties.

In American law. One who, under the constitution and laws of the United States, or of a particular state, and by virtue of birth or naturalization within the jurlsdic-tion, ls a member of the political community, owing allegiance and being entitled to the enjoyment of full civil rights. U. S. v. Cruikshank, 92 U. S. 542, 23 L. Ed. 588; White v. Clements, 39 Ga. 259; Amy v. Smith, 1 Litt. (Ky.) 331; State v. Co.unty Co.urt, 90 Mo. 593, 2 S. W. 788; Minor v. Happersett, 21 Wall. 162, 22 L. Ed. 627; U. S. v. Morris (D. C.) 125 Fed 325. The term "citizen" has come to us derived from antiquity. It appears to have been used in the Roman government to designate a person who had the freedom of the city, and the right to exercise all political and civil privileges of the government. There was also, at Rome, a partial citizenship, including civil, but not political, rights. Complete citizenship embraced both. Thomasson v. State, 15 Ind. 451. All persons bom or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. Amend. XIV, Const. U. S. There is in our political system a government of each of the several states, and a government of the United States. Each is distinct from the others, and has citizens of its own, who owe it allegiance, and whose rights, within its jurisdiction, it must protect. The same person may be at the same time a citizen of the United States and a citizen of a state; but his rights of citizenship under one of these governments will be different from those he bas under the other. The government of the United States, although it is, within the scope of its powers, supreme and beyond the states, can neither grant nor secure to its citizens rights or privileges which are not expressly or by implication placed under its jurisdiction. All that cannot be so granted or secured are left to the exclusive protection of the states. U. S. v. Cruikshank, 92 U. S. 542, 23 L. Ed. 588. "Citizen" and "inhabitant" are not synonymous. One may be a citizen of a state without being an inhabitant, or an inhabitant without being a citizen. Quinby v. Duncan, 4 Har. (Del) 383. "Citizen" is sometimes used as synonymous with "resident;" as. in a statute authorizing funds to be distributed among the religious societies of a township, proportionably to the number of their members who are citizens of the township. State v. Trustees, 11 Ohio, 24.

In English law. An inhabitant of a city. 1 Rolle, 138. The representative of a city, in parliament. 1 Bl. Comm. 174. It will be perceived that, in the English usage, ths word adheres closely to its original meaning, as shown by its derivation, (civis, a free inhabitant of a city.) When it is designed to designate an iubabitant of the country, or one amenable to the laws of the nation, "subject" is the word there employed.

Citizein, I. fr. Strictly, a member of a commonwealth, possessing all the rights which can be enjoyed or exercised under its fundamental laws.

In American law. One who, under the constitution and laws, has a right to vote for public ofl Scers, and who is qualified to fill of Bces in the gift of the people.

In English law. A freeman, or one who resided and kept a family in a city; an inhabitant having certain rights or privileges; the representative of a city in parliament, as a burgess is the representative of a borough.

[Lat. civis.] In English law. The representative of a city in parliament, as a burgess is the representative of a borough. 1 Bl. Com. 174. 2 Steph. Com. 362,* 363. But see Burgess, Anciently, a freeman, or one who resided and kept a family in a city. 1 Boll, Bep. 138—149.

In American law. One who, under the constitution and laws of the United States, has a right to vote for public officers, and who is qualified to fill offices in the ^t of the people. 3 Story on Const. 1687.-»-A free inhabitant, bom withm the United States, or naturalized under the law of Congress. 2 Kent's Com. 258, note. A citizen of the United States, residing permanently in any state, is a citizen of that state. Marshall, C. J., 1 Brock. B. 389, 39 L And see U. S. Digest, and Supplement, Citizen. U. S, Ann. Dig, 1848, h. t.