A lot of people live in our country: some of them were born here, are indigenous people and can definitely call themselves citizens of this state, others came to earn money or get an education, and possibly stay permanently. Such people can be both foreign citizens and stateless persons. In general, the concept of "citizen" can be considered both in a narrow, or political and legal, and in a broad sense. So let's define what a citizen is.
Citizen in the broad sense of the word
Who is a citizen in the broadest sense? This is a patriot who really loves his country, actively participates in its life and development. He is proud of the achievements of the state, honors history, helps his compatriots. Such a person will definitely go to serve in the army, will regularly pay taxes and fulfill other duties assigned to him by law.
In other words, a real citizen is one who does not put his own interests above the public, as well as one who is really able to benefit the state and society. In addition, he wishes for a better future, with all his might and opportunityaiming for it.
Who is a citizen in the political and legal sense
In the narrow sense, citizens are those who are in a special legal relationship with the state. This gives a person not only a fairly wide range of rights, but also imposes certain obligations, for example: to observe the Constitution and other laws, to defend the Fatherland, to pay the established taxes and fees on time. The state, in turn, gives its protection to the citizen. This protection also applies when a person stays on the territory of a foreign state. Vivid examples can be seen in films when the main character, in order to escape, hurries to get to the embassy or consulate of his country. Paradoxically, their premises are the territory of the states whose interests they represent.
Acquisition of citizenship
As for the procedure for acquiring citizenship, it is established by the legislative acts of the state and usually occurs on such grounds as:
- birth on the territory of the state. Sometimes, by the way, a child born on the territory of another state is automatically accepted into the citizenship of the country to which his parents belong;
- admission to citizenship, which is carried out subject to the statutory conditions: residence in the territory of the state for a certain period of time, the availability of a source of livelihood;
- restoration of the citizenship of those who previously stayed in it;
- option that happens when borders changestates, as a result of which people from new territories are accepted for citizenship, as happened with the Republic of Crimea.
Other residents of the state
Foreign citizens are persons who are not in a relationship of citizenship with the state in which they are currently located: permanently residing or temporarily staying.
Stateless persons, or stateless persons, are those who are not in legal relations of citizenship (or nationality) with any state.
Of course, foreign citizens are subject to all laws that have legal force in this country. In addition, their rights are limited to some extent, for example, in the case of employment, foreign citizens (or stateless persons) must obtain a special document (patent or work permit). In general, the status of a foreigner is defined and protected by the Declaration on the Human Rights of Foreign Nationals, adopted by the UN in 1985
There is another important duty, which consists in the need to register with a special body for migration. As a rule, this is mandatory in the case when a foreigner stays in the country longer than 7 days. Then the people with whom he is visiting must personally register him with the migration service. If a foreign citizen lives in a hotel, this responsibility lies with the hotel staff.
The ratio of the legal status of a person and a citizen
What is the difference between the concepts of "person" and "citizen"? It is easiest to understand this by definingtheir legal status. Thus, the status of a person allows this person to enjoy a set of rights inherent in absolutely all people: the right to life, to freedom of movement and personal integrity, to private property in general. In other words, they include those rights in relation to which the law applies such expressions as “everyone has the right”, “no one can be”.
The status of a citizen is directly related to the relations that arise between the state and a person who has the citizenship of this state. And the rights of a given person usually include: the right to elect and be elected, the right to work in certain organizations, usually associated with the defense industry or with a certain level of secrecy.
Definition of a law-abiding citizen
A law-abiding citizen is a person who strictly observes the laws of the state of which he is a citizen. He voluntarily submits to all the requirements of the law without exception and, of course, does it voluntarily, and not for the reason that he is afraid of any negative consequences. Such a person is clearly aware of the significance and value of legal norms, moreover, he is deeply convinced that they must be observed. Another important aspect of law-abiding behavior is the social one. A citizen understands that by observing all the norms of the law, he benefits society. And what is useful for society, of course, is useful for itself.
So, a law-abiding citizen -one who has a sufficiently developed sense of justice, as well as the conviction that it is precisely this path - the path of following the rules of law in everyday life - that will lead to a better development of the state and society in which he lives. The question may arise: if a person not only fulfills the requirements of legal acts, but also goes beyond them in that he does not contradict the law, then who is he? Such a citizen will also be law-abiding.
