The Devolution of Democratic Citizenship

45 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2022

See all articles by Christine Chambers Goodman

Christine Chambers Goodman

Pepperdine University - Rick J. Caruso School of Law

Date Written: 2021

Abstract

The actual operation of United States citizenship today shows a dilution worse than during the decline of ancient Rome. The notion of duty and obligation, whether evidenced in voluntary military service or voluntary voting, has diminished to the point of no longer being a valid measure for who is a good or bad citizen. After an introduction in part one, this Article provides a brief history of the early Greek and Roman notions of citizenship and its devolution in the modern United States in part two. Next, parts three and four draw upon international norms and practices to evaluate three strategies for enhancing the meaning of U.S. citizenship: modifying birthright citizenship, mandatory (military) service, and universal civic duty voting. Part five concludes the Article with suggestions for more accurately characterizing, and effectuating, the meaning of American citizenship and strategies to modify the devolutionary path in a direction that more fully satisfies our democratic ideals.

Keywords: United States, citizenship, duty, obligation, military service, voting, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, devolution, birthright citizenship, democracy

Suggested Citation

Goodman, Christine Chambers, The Devolution of Democratic Citizenship (2021). Pepperdine University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2022/12 , Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, Vol. 30, No. 4, 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4198464

Christine Chambers Goodman (Contact Author)

Pepperdine University - Rick J. Caruso School of Law ( email )

24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
United States

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