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State citizenship in the United States grants rights and protections under a state’s constitution, but also imposes legal obligations. It requires residency and intent to use that residence as a home, and does not allow for dual citizenship. State citizenship varies by jurisdiction and confers benefits such as voting and access to public education, but also requires obedience to state laws, which can differ greatly between states.
Under the United States Constitution, state citizenship is citizenship of one of the states of the United States that confers rights protected by that state’s constitution that cannot be waived. Any person born or naturalized in the United States is a citizen of the United States and of the state in which they reside. Being a citizen of a state gives the citizen certain rights and privileges, but also imposes particular legal obligations on that state.
The Constitution allows US citizens to travel freely between states and to reside in any state they choose. Becoming a citizen of a state depends primarily on a person’s intention to reside in it. State citizenship requires that a person has a residence in a particular state and intends to use that residence as a home. Ownership of property or mere physical residence in a state does not make a person a citizen of that state.
For example, a person who leaves the State of California for the purpose of a summer job in the State of Utah does not become a citizen of Utah by virtue of residing there for his or her summer job. However, if he decides that this state is where he wants to live, residing there the length of time specified by Utah law will make you a Utah citizen. The length of residency required to become a state citizen varies by jurisdiction.
There is no legal status of “dual status” citizenship. In the United States, a person residing in one state may own property in another where he spends part of the year. However, a person’s residence is where he considers his home, the place to which he returns after an absence. Legally, this is where she is “domiciled”. A person can only be domiciled in one place at a time.
State citizenship confers many rights and benefits. Among these are state constitution protections, the right to vote in state elections and to run for public office, access to public education, and public benefits such as food and housing assistance. State licensure is available to practice a chosen profession within a state.
With state citizenship comes an obligation to obey state laws, which can vary greatly from those of other states. For example, a citizen of the State of New Mexico may carry a handgun. A New York State citizen cannot. Civil laws also vary between states. For example, state tax laws are different in each jurisdiction, as are marriage and family laws.
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