A lot of people live in our country: some of them were born here, they are indigenous people and they can definitely call themselves citizens of this state, others came to earn money or get an education, and possibly stay for permanent residence. Such people can be both foreign citizens and stateless persons. In general, the concept of “citizen” can be considered both in a narrow, or politico-legal, and in a broad sense. So, we will determine who such a citizen is.
Citizen in the broadest 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 certainly go to serve in the army, will regularly pay taxes and fulfill other duties assigned to him by law.
In other words, a true citizen is one who does not put his interests above the public, as well as one who is really able to benefit the state and society. In addition, he wants a better future to come, striving for it with all his strength and capabilities.
Who is a citizen in the political legal sense
In a narrow sense, citizens are called those who are in a special legal relationship with the state. This gives a person not only a wide range of rights, but imposes certain duties, for example: to comply with the Constitution and other laws, to protect 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 in a foreign country. Vivid examples can be observed in films, when the main character, in order to save himself, hurries to get to the embassy or consulate of his country. Paradoxically, their premises are the territory of the states whose interests they represent.
Citizenship Acquisition
As for the procedure for acquiring citizenship, it is established by 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 in the territory of another state is automatically taken into the citizenship of the country to which his parents belong;
- Admission to citizenship, which is subject to legislatively established conditions: residence on the territory of the state for a certain period of time, the availability of a source of livelihood
- restoration of citizenship of those who previously stayed in it;
- an option that happens when the borders of the state change, as a result of which people from new territories are accepted into 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 reside or temporarily stay.
Stateless persons , or stateless persons, are those who are not in the legal relationship of citizenship (or citizenship) with any state.
Of course, foreign citizens are subject to all laws that have legal force in a given country. In addition, their rights are somewhat limited, for example, in the case of employment, foreign citizens (or stateless persons) must receive a special document (patent or work permit). In general, the status of a foreigner is determined and protected by the UN Declaration on Human Rights with Respect to Foreign Citizens, adopted in 1985.
There is another important obligation, consisting in the need to become a migration registration in a special body. As a rule, this is mandatory 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 resides in a hotel, this obligation lies with the hotel staff.
Correlation of legal statuses of man and citizen
What is the difference between the concepts of "man" and "citizen"? This is easiest to understand by determining their legal status. So, the status of a person allows this person to use the totality of rights inherent in absolutely all people: the right to life, to freedom of movement and personal inviolability, to private property in general. In other words, they include those rights in relation to which the law applies expressions such as “everyone has the right”, “no one can be”.
The status of a citizen is directly related to the relations arising between the state and a person who has the citizenship of that state. And the rights of this 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 complies with the laws of the state of which he is a citizen. He voluntarily obeys 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 clearly understands the significance and value of legal norms; moreover, he is deeply convinced that they must be respected. Equally important is such an aspect of law-abiding behavior as a social one. A citizen understands that, observing all the rules of the law, he benefits the society. And what is useful for society, of course, is useful for itself.
So, a law-abiding citizen - one who has a sufficiently developed legal awareness, as well as the conviction that this is the path - the path to following the norms of law in everyday life - will lead to a better development of the state and society in which he lives. The question may arise: and if a person not only complies with the requirements of legal acts, but also goes beyond them in that the law does not contradict, then who is he? Such a citizen will also be law-abiding.