RBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes Chapter 6 Citizenship

These comprehensive RBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes Chapter 6 Citizenship will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Chapter 6 Notes Citizenship

→ Meaning of Citizen:
The word ‘Citizen’ is sometimes loosely used in the sense of a man living in a city and possessing a polished tongue and refined manner. This is not the sense in which the term citizen is used in civics. Citizen is that member of population of a State who enjoys all the rights civil as well as political under the protection of the State in return for the allegiance he owes to the State. According to Aristotle, “He who has the power to take part in deliberative or judicial administration of any State is said by us to be a citizen of that State.” Mere residence in the territory of a State does not make a person a citizen. In every State there are several aliens who are citizens of foreign States. Vattal has defined citizens as “the members of a civil society bound to this society by certain duties, subject to its authority and equal participation in its advantages.” According to Sri Niwas Shastri, “A citizen is one, who is a member of a State and intelligent appreciation of what would conduce to the highest moral- welfare of the community.”
 
The State protects the citizens’ life, property and liberty and his political rights. It provides him an opportunity for developing his personality and leading a useful and happy life.

→ Meaning of Citizenship:

• Citizenship is a legal relationship which binds an individual to the State of which he is a member.
• Laski offers a more positive conception of citizenship by defining as the “contribution of one’s instructed judgement to public good.” This definition assigns a positive role to the citizen, viz., his duty to contribute his mite towards material and moral advancement of | his fellow citizens and that humanity as a whole.
• According to Gettell, “Citizenship is that condition of individual due to which he can use national and political rights in his ready to fulfil obligation.”
• According to Boyd, “Citizenship consists in the right ordering of loyalties.” 

→ Modes of gaining of Citizenship

• Long Residence. Sometimes aliens can acquire naturalised citizenship on account of their residence for a particular period in that State.
• Aarriage. A marriage affects a change in the citizenship of the wife who follows the citizenship of her husband. Thus, an English woman marrying a German will become a German citizen.
• Adoption. The adoption of a new child also determines the new citizenship. For instance, if any German couple adopts the child of England, he acquires the citizenship of his adopted parents, i.e., of Germany.
• Government Service. In certain States there is a principle that if any foreigner joins government service in that State then he gets the citizenship of that State.

→ How citizenship is lost :

• Long Absence. Long absence from the home country is sufficient under the law of many State to exclude one from the fold of citizens. In France and Germany, citizens who absent themselves from their State for more than ten years may lose their citizenship.
• Marriage. In many states, woman marrying a foreigner loses her citizenship in her own country and acquires the citizenship of her husband’s country.
• Government Service in other State. Some states deprive their citizens of the citizenship if they accept government service in some other State.
• Crime. Citizenship may be lost by a man who is convicted of heinous crime.

→ Hindrances in the way of good citizenship :

• Illiteracy: Illiteracy is the biggest hindrance in the way of good citizenship. An illiterate citizen does not have proper knowledge of his rights and duties.
• Indolence: Indolence is another hindrance in the way of good citizenship. An ignorant and indolent citizen can’t be a good citizen.
• Poverty: Many social evils crop up because of poverty. A person can’t take part in public affairs. He can’t be a good citizen.
• Communalism: Communalism is a great hindrance in the path of good citizenship. Communalism creates the feelings of hatred among citizens.