Sunday, June 5, 2016

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP ----- CIVICS FORM ONE STUDY NOTES



Responsible Citizenship

Concept of Citizenship
The term citizenship comes from the word citizen which means a person who is accepted as a member and who belongs to a certain country.

The Meaning of Citizen and Citizenship

Explain the meaning of citizen and citizenship

In Tanzania a person cannot be a citizen of more than one country. Therefore, citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular country. A responsible citizen is the one who fulfills the duties and responsibilities of a citizen in his country.

Types and the Importance of Citizenship

Explain types and the importance of citizenship
There are three main types of citizenship - by birth, naturalization registration or by descent.

Citizenship by birth
This is the type of citizenship that most citizens have in a given country. It means, a person has citizenship status simply by being born to parents who are citizens of that country. It is sometimes known as natural citizenship.
A copy of birth certificate

Citizenship by naturalization/registration
This involves applying to the ministry responsible for granting citizenship status. This is given to those who have been positively accepted by the concerned ministry. For instance, if a non-citizen wishes to become a Tanzanian citizen he or she can apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs for citizenship.

The registration and naturalization, application process
Citizenship by registration is granted directly in Tanzania to any female applicant who is married to a Tanzanian, no matter whether she is from a Commonwealth or non-Commonwealth country. Any citizen of a Commonwealth country may also apply for citizenship by registration. People from non-Commonwealth countries may also apply for citizenship. In order for citizenship to be granted, applicants must meet the following conditions:
1.     Has legally lived in the country for not less than five years continuously.
2.     Able to speak Kiswahili or English fluently.
3.     Well behaved; that means does not found engaging in criminal offenses.
4.     Make an oath denouncing his or her previous citizenship.
5.     Promise to be a good citizen and to be loyal to the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania. These conditions are also applicable to women married to Tanzanian citizens.
Citizenship by descent
A person who was born outside the country, but whose parents are citizens of Tanzania by birth or naturalization, can also apply for citizenship to the minister of Home Affairs.
Loss of citizenship in Tanzania
In Tanzania one can lose citizenship status on three grounds;
1.     If a Tanzanian citizen holds dual nationality; that is, if is a Tanzanian citizen at the same time a member of another country or other countries.
2.     If one denounces his/her Tanzanian citizenship.
3.     If one obtained his/her citizenship by fraud. Note: There are some cases where a person can be a citizen of two countries (dual citizenship). In Tanzania, this is not applied to date, but there is a move to dual citizenship in Tanzania.
Importance of citizenship
Citizenship is important as a citizen receives legal rights for being a member to a certain country, and is protected as a citizen of that country. It is also the legal way of being recognized as a person belonging to a particular country, and the country receives loyalty from its citizens.
Additionally a person gains legitimacy to involve in decisions in the country; for instance, citizens vote for leaders or can be voted for as leaders. A country can also impose its authority upon its citizens to carry out its policies for the development of the nation. Finally, a country gets revenue from its citizens through taxes paid by them.

Activity 1
1. Ask your fellow students, what type of citizenship they are?2 What type of your citizenship?

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