Citizenship is a status given by a government to some or all of its people. Being a citizen means not only meeting certain responsibilities, but also enjoying certain rights. In the U.S. today, many of our governmental institutions are based on concepts of the Ancient World. Citizenship in the United States resembles the concepts of citizenship in both Ancient Athens and Ancient Rome. Ancient Athens believed that participating in government and making the city-state work was a part of being a good citizen. The only people who were thought to be qualified for citizenship were free, native-born adult males. The male children of citizens could be granted citizenship after completing their education and two years of military training (Doc …show more content…
Rome granted citizenship more freely than Athens. Citizenship was granted to free, native-born adult males and females as well as their children and the sons of freed slaves (doc A). Although many people were granted citizenship, not all were given equal rights. For example, foreigners in conquered lands could be given “full or partial citizenship”, and citizens of states with treaty obligations were given “limited rights in return for performing military service” (Doc C). The government in Rome was divided into three different branches: the Consul, the Senate and the Assembly (Doc F). Every five years a census of the Roman population would be conducted. During this census, citizens were ranked based on “wealth, heritage [family standing], administrative competence, marital status, and physical and moral fitness.” If a citizen did not meet these standards then they would be “demoted in rank,” and if the citizen was a senator then they would lose their seat in the Senate (Doc D). Like in Rome, citizenship in America is more freely given. America grants citizenship to anyone as long as they meet certain criteria such as living in the country for five years and having no prison record. American government is also split into three different branches: executive, judicial, and legislative. Although America does not use a census to demote citizens’ of their rank, they can revoke their right to vote or remove a government official from office. Traces of Roman citizenship are visible in modern American