POLITICS AND CITIZENSHIP
The know-how on politics and being an American
General Idea
2000 Election: Al Gore (Democrat) vs. George W. Bush (Republican)
2000: Events of the Presidency under President Bush (First Term)
President George W. Bush Inaugurated
In January of 2001, the Republican party saw yet another victory for their cause, with the successful election and placement into office of President Bush. But, this would have more than just its on face implication. With the Republicans controlling the majority in the House of Representatives, a major factor in the legislative branch, this inauguration would mean more cooperation in the government. This would mean, more
War on Iraq Declared
Following the devastating attack on the World Trade Center, a direct terrorist threat to the United States, President George Bush made it apparent that the United States would retaliate to remove the threat once and for all. With the support of Congress on October 16th of 2002, this declaration of war was made official, and the United States entered a War on Iraq that would cost lives and money at the price of removing a horrific threat.
Child Citizenship Act of 2000
On the brighter side of Bush's first term, there were several changes to how one could become an American citizen early on in their lives. This was made possible through the Citizenship Act of 2000, at which certain foreign-born, biological, and adopted children could acquire American citizenship automatically. Of course, this was not birthright citizenship (which would be achieved in his second term), but it was a push in the right direction, as these children could become citizens immediately following their status as a legal permanent resident.
2004 Election: John Kerry (Democrat) vs. George W. Bush (Republican)
2004: Events of the Presidency under President Bush (Second Term)
Bush Criticized for Iraq War
With soldiers' lives and money both being spent on the War on Iraq, it was not a surprise to find much criticism from anti-war citizens and Democrats in 2005. This political event was, after all, the center of politics during its existence. Luckily though, George Bush was able to clarify the intent behind going into Iraq (weapons of mass destruction and terrorism), and somewhat distilled the opposition for the time being.
Democrats Gained Control of Congress
After the Clinton Administration, and halfway into President Bush's second term, the legislative branch experienced a shift of power. This shift was because of the 2006 legislative elections that made the Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate the majority after 12 years of Republican control. This shift also meant a huge shift in power in government, as a Republican executive branch, and Democratic legislative branch tended to butt heads then, and now.
Birthright Citizenship Act of 2007
Following some adaptation from many Democrats into their new Congress positions, the idea of citizenship became a hot topic in the legislative branch. As a result of this, a new act, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2007, was passed. This act made it so that if a child was born in the United States, they would be considered a United States citizen. And, even if this would cause problems with immigration in the future (people want their children to have better lives, so they immigrate to the United States to have the child there), the increased amount of citizens has been beneficial to the United States in the 2000's, and especially now.
2008 Election: Barack Obama (Democrat) vs. John McCain (Republican)
2008: Events of the Presidency under President Obama
Election of First Black President
As history would contend, the idea of a black president wasn't a popular idea for many years. Civil rights movements and a massive anti-African American sentiment were major obstacles in the past, but not anymore. With the election of current President Barack Obama, the capability of society to accept anyone was truly established. Therefore, this political event expressed a major message to the rest of the world, that "yes, we can!"
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
In the first term of Obama's presidency, he passed a highly controversial bill called the Affordable Care Act, or as it is commonly known, Obamacare. This act would institute new taxes on investment income, medicare, medical device excise tax, and would include new programs, such as therapeutic discovery project programs. All of this was a huge political shift in a liberal direction, and only with the help of the Supreme Court's ruling was this act passed. It will now be effective as of 2014.
Arizona Immigration Law
Continuing the trend of political movements affecting the essence of being an American, one movement by Arizona legislature took many legal and illegal immigrants aback. The Arizona Immigration Law, also known as one of the most stringent immigration laws at the time (2010), placed extensive checks on immigrants, and allowed the borderline stereotyping of anyone that appeared to be illegal. The reason that this law made such a huge political splash, was that it threw out the idea of equal judgment, equal chances, and equal opportunity for many people that did not prefer this stereotype put on them or their children.
2012 Election: Barack Obama (Democrat) vs. Mitt Romney (Republican)
2012: Events of the Presidency under President Obama
Post-Racial America
After the second election of President Obama in defeating Mitt Romney, a new idea was truly expressed by America's choice: being beyond racial barriers. As specifically expressed by Obama's old professor at Harvard, Charles Ogletree, this era was expressing a Post-Racial America, and politics were finally on to opinions (as radical and stubborn as they may be). This was quite an achievement for the 2000's.
Sequestration
Another, very important economic event was caused by the political disunity of the Republicans and Democrats: Sequestration. The sequester was a check on the system that caused $85 billion dollars in federal spending cuts as an incentive for both political parties to work together. Sadly, though, they could not even achieve this feat, and the sequester came into affect in 2013. Even more, the an economic plan did not come out of this incentive.
Compromise on Bipartisan Immigration Bill
Unlike many legislative bills in the 21st century, this immigration bill made by a bipartisan group of senators, including former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, was a collaborative effort to solve the immigration problem facing North and South areas of the United States. The bill is still seeing some changes and critiques, but the overall idea behind this compromise is helping citizens and politicians alike become more successful in our current society.
General Citizenship Requirements and Revocations
Does:
- Be a national of the United States of America.
- Be an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.
- Be an active member of the armed forces for the United States.
Don'ts:
- Becoming naturalized in another country after the age of 18.
- Participation in a foreign oath of allegiance to another nation after the age of 18.
- Renouncing citizenship in front of a United States official.
- Being convicted of treason.
- Accepting an active role in a foreign military that is hostile to the United States, or accepting a federal position of another government.
Work Cited
"Advice about Possible Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Dual Nationality." Bureau of
-----Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. 11 Jan. 2013.
-----Web. 23 May 2013.
"Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions." Internal Revenue Service. Internal Revenue
-----Service. 16 May 2013. Web. 23 May 2013.
Archibold, Randal C.. "Arizona Enacts Stringent Law on Immigration." The New York
------Times. The New York Times. 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 May 2013.
"Authorization For Use Of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002." Commission
-----of International Relations. Commission of International Relations. 16 Oct. 2002.
-----Web. 23 May 2013.
"Bill Text 110th Congress (2007-2008) H.R.1940.IH." The Library of Congress. The Library
-----of Congress. 19 Apr. 2007. Web. 23 May 2013.
"Child Citizenship Act of 2000." Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State. U.S.
-----Department of State. 2000. Web. 23 May 2013.
Damon, Laura. "Confidant, teacher to Obamas opens URI Black History Month events."
-----Beacon Communications. Johnston Sunrise. 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 May 2013.
Gura, David. " Sequester: A fiscal cliff we will go over." American Public Media.
-----Marketplace. 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 May 2013.
"Rewind: Bush, Iraq Topped Political News of 2005." FoxNews. FoxNews. 28 December
-----2005. Web. 23 May 2013.
"Posts Tagged Major Political Stories of 2000-2009." The Progressive Professor. The
-----Progressive Professor. 31 Dec. 2009. Web. 23 May 2013.
Vela, Hatzel. "Immigration 2013: Criticism of bill from left to right." ABC7. ABC7. 15 Apr.
-----2013. Web. 23 May 2013.