Naturalization: Becoming Citizens

Transcription

1 Naturalization: Becoming Citizens Electronic Learning Expedition Special Event Educator Resource Packet

2 NOTE TO THE EDUCATOR This resources packet was prepared by the Education and Interpretation Department of the Institute of Texan Cultures. This packet of resources may be used to enhance and extend the learning from this Electronic Learning Expedition Special Event. For more information on this program, please contact: Department of Education and Interpretation Institute of Texan Cultures UTSA HemisFair Park Campus 801 East César E. Chávez Blvd. San Antonio, TX Phone: (210) Fax: (210) TexanCultures.com 2013 UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures 2 P a g e

3 Table of Contents NOTE TO THE EDUCATOR... 2 Overview of Naturalization: Becoming Citizens ELE... 4 Description... 4 Grades... 4 Subjects... 4 Naturalization Ceremony at ITC... 4 Naturalization Ceremony Etiquette... 5 Dress... 5 Behavior... 5 Conduct... 5 Becoming a Citizen of the United States... 7 Suggested Discussion Questions... 9 Naturalization Ceremony Overview Appendix Oath of Allegiance References P a g e

4 Overview of Naturalization: Becoming Citizens ELE (A Special Event) Available October 24, 2013 Description Watch live as immigrants become new U.S. citizens. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Grades K-Adult Subjects Social Studies Naturalization Ceremony at ITC For over 30 years, more than 2,000 people have become American citizens annually at the Institute of Texan Cultures. In cooperation with the United States Government, eight times a year, the museum becomes a federal courthouse because a federal judge is present, and petitioners take the oath of citizenship to become naturalized Americans. At the Institute of Texan Cultures, citizenship candidates take that oath surrounded by family and friends and the legacies of the many people and cultures who have contributed to the diversity and greatness of Texas and the United States. Naturalization is a natural fit for the Institute, as the museum focuses the confluence of cultures that settled Texas. This videoconference will be live in the courtroom, so the Naturalization Ceremony Etiquette on the following page should be followed during the ceremony. 4 P a g e

5 Naturalization Ceremony Etiquette A naturalization ceremony takes place in a United States federal court. When a ceremony is held in any other public venue, the ceremony, despite the setting, is still considered a federal courtroom. It is crucial that everyone in attendance recognizes that their dress, behavior, and conduct must be respectful and honor the government, the judge, members of the court, the new citizens, and their guests. Here is an etiquette guide that outlines some of the appropriate behavior for virtual attendees. Dress The appropriate dress for court is business casual. Shorts, tank tops, any clothing exposing the midriff or underclothing and t-shirts with inappropriate graphics/wording are not allowed in the courtroom. Female students should wear modest blouses with skirts or pants or dresses that don t expose too much skin. Male students should wear slacks or khakis with a nice shirt. Jeans are prohibited, and clothing should be loose and not form-fitting. Hats/headdresses are not permitted in the courtroom unless they are worn for religious reasons. Behavior All electronic devices should be turned off. Students are not permitted to record any part of the naturalization ceremony. Food, beverage, tobacco, and chewing gum are strictly prohibited in the courtroom at all times. Conduct At the beginning of the ceremony, the Clerk of Courts will enter the courtroom and ask everyone to rise. This means everyone in attendance in the courtroom (and virtually) will stand as the judge enters and calls the court to order. The Clerk will then state, You may be seated. At this time, students will re-seat themselves and listen as court begins. 5 P a g e

6 Students are expected to be respectful and not speak during the naturalization ceremony. Not only does talking exhibit disrespect to the courts, but it might cause students to miss important information. They should listen attentively to what is said. The naturalization ceremony will conclude when the Clerk of Courts again states, All rise. This means everyone will stand as the judge exits and the court proceedings are concluded. The Clerk will then state, You may be seated. At this time, the students will re-seat themselves until they are dismissed by their teacher. Adapted from Citizenship Counts Naturalization Ceremony Etiquette Guide. -guide/ 6 P a g e

7 Becoming a Citizen of the United States To be a citizen of the United States one must either be born in the U.S. or apply for citizenship through their parents (if the child was born outside of the U.S. and one or both parents are U.S. citizens) or through naturalization, the official act by which a person is made a national of a country other than his or her native one. Anyone wanting to become a citizen must file an application, be interviewed and investigated, and then file a formal petition for naturalization. They will also take an oath of allegiance. Petitioners have been taking the oath since the first naturalization law was enacted in Essentially, the oath of allegiance means that the soon-to-be citizen agrees to: 1. Support and defend the Constitution and laws of the U.S. 2. Renounce his/her allegiance to a foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty. 3. Bear arms or preform noncombatant or civil service duties when required by law. Naturalized citizens have all the rights of citizenship except the right to become president; they are allowed to run for the House of Representatives after seven years and the Senate after nine years. For more information on the naturalization process, for a sample naturalization test, and for lesson ideas, visit the following websites: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Citizenship Counts icivics Smithsonian National Museum of American History Institute of Texan Cultures resources: 7 P a g e

8 Why We Came: The Immigration Experience Exhibit Immigration Educator Resources Human and Civil Rights Panel video 8 P a g e

9 Suggested Discussion Questions 1. Why have people come to the United States in the past? 2. Why do people come to the United States today? 3. What are the benefits for immigrants and for the United States when people from other lands settle here? 4. What complications sometimes develop for immigrants and for the United States? 5. Assimilation is the process by which someone adopts the ways of another culture. What are some things that indicate that an immigrant has assimilated into American society? Why do these particular things signify assimilation? 6. Do you think immigrants should assimilate? Why or why not? 7. Immigrants were presumably more welcome in the United States 100 years ago when there was more land and a need for cheap labor. What arguments can be made for welcoming immigrants to the United States today? 8. One common argument against immigration is that a government should use its resources to take care of its own rather than care for those from other countries. Evaluate the validity of this argument. How much does a democratic government owe its own? What responsibility, if any, does that same government have to other citizens of the world? Adapted from Discovery s Immigration to the United States lesson plan. -lesson-plans/immigration-to-the-united-states.cfm 9 P a g e

10 Naturalization Ceremony Overview The following page contains an overview of what to expect during the ceremony. This is a generic outline used by the court for each ceremony. While there may be occasional modifications to individual ceremonies, the following is standard during most: 1. Opening of court 2. Posting of the Colors (or the posting of state and national flags) 3. Judge welcomes everyone 4. Recognition of the total number of citizenship petitioners participating 5. Listing of the countries represented by the petitioners; the petitioners stand as their country of origin is called 6. Judge administers the oath to the petitioners (Refer to page 12 for the oath.) 7. Judge grants petitioners citizenship upon completion of the oath 8. Everyone rises and recites the Pledge of Allegiance and sings the National Anthem 9. Recognition of special guests of the court 10. Viewing of a video entitled God Bless the USA 11. Final court announcements 12. Closing music number from the band 13. Retirement of the Colors 14. Court is adjourned 10 P a g e

11 Appendix 11 P a g e

12 Oath of Allegiance I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or a citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. 12 P a g e

13 References Naturalization Ceremony Etiquette Guide. (2012). Retrieved October 10, 2013, from Citizenship Counts: Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America. (2012, September 4). Retrieved October 10, 2013, from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: f6d1a/?vgnextoid=facd6db8d7e37210VgnVCM ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=dd7ffe9dd4aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD Buchberg, W., & Chemung, S. (2013). Immigration To The United States. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from Discovery Education: United States District Court Western District of Texas San Antonio Division. (2011, October). Naturalization Ceremony Script. 13 P a g e