A citizen is a person who is a member of a political community, typically a country or state. Citizenship usually carries with it certain rights and obligations that are denied or only partly extended to noncitizens, such as the right to vote and hold public office. Other responsibilities may include loyalty and service in the military. A citizen is also expected to obey the laws of his or her country.
In modern times, citizenship has come to be seen as a crucial element of democracy. In fact, many studies have been undertaken to try to determine how to foster good citizenship in the general population and encourage people to participate more in democratic society. These studies generally focus on different aspects of what it means to be a citizen, such as civic culture, democracy and education.
Historically, the concept of citizen has been linked to the notion of property. For example, in Ancient Greece, only those who owned something could participate in politics; slaves, peasants, women or resident foreigners were not considered citizens. The idea of citizenship evolved with the rise of towns and cities. In the Middle Ages, citizenship was associated with various cities and towns, and titles like burgher (French) or gross burgher (German) were used to identify people who were members of these communities. In later times, the idea of citizenship became connected to mercantile and trading classes.
While there are many different theories of citizenship, most agree that the concept is rooted in an individual’s relationship with a nation and a state. A person who lives in a particular place is expected to obey the law and contribute to the betterment of that place and its inhabitants. This is often described as “active citizenship,” which involves taking part in economic and social life, such as participating in political activities and volunteering to help others in the community. This concept is becoming increasingly popular in some countries, which are teaching it in their schools as an academic subject.
In the United States, for example, a citizen is expected to vote in every election and pay his or her share of taxes. He or she is also expected to serve in the military during wartime and maintain his or her property according to community standards. Citizens are also encouraged to participate in civic activities, such as volunteering or serving on a jury.
Although it can be difficult to measure what exactly makes someone a good citizen, most surveys do indicate some common variables that should be present in an ideal citizen. Among these are loyalty, participation and solidarity, as well as knowledge of the political system, democracy and history. These factors are important because they are all related to citizens’ ability to contribute to democracy and to feel a sense of ownership of their country. In addition, if these traits are not present in a country, then it can be challenging for the government to function effectively.