In this important book, a distinguished group of historians, political scientists, and legal experts explore three related issues: the Immigration and Naturalization Service's historic review of its citizenship evaluation, recent proposals to alter the oath of allegiance and the laws governing dual citizenship, and the changing rights and responsibilities of citizens and resident aliens in the United States. How Americans address these issues, the contributors argue, will shape broader debates about multiculturalism, civic virtue and national identity. The response will also determine how many immigrants become citizens and under what conditions, what these new citizens learn_and teach_about the meaning of American citizenship, and whether Americans regard newcomers as intruders or as fellow citizens with whom they share a common fate.

In this important book, a distinguished group of historians, political scientists, and legal experts explore three related issues: the Immigration and Naturalization Service's historic review of its citizenship evaluation, recent proposals to alter the oath of allegiance and the laws governing dual citizenship, and the changing rights and responsibilities of citizens and resident aliens in the United States. How Americans address these issues, the contributors argue, will shape broader debates about multiculturalism, civic virtue and national identity. The response will also determine how many immigrants become citizens and under what conditions, what these new citizens learn_and teach_about the meaning of American citizenship, and whether Americans regard newcomers as intruders or as fellow citizens with whom they share a common fate.

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Introduction
Part 3 Part I. The Meaning of Americanization
Chapter 4 The Promise of American Citizenship
Chapter 5 Citizenship in Theory and Practice: A Response to Charles Kesler
Chapter 6 "Am I an American or Not?" Reflections on Citizenship, Americanization, and Race
Chapter 7 Reviving Americanization: A Response to Juan Perea
Part 8 Part II. Nationalism and Citizenship
Chapter 9 Nationalism, Cosmopolitanism, and the United States
Chapter 10 A National Solidarity? A Response to David Hollinger
Chapter 11 To Make Natural: Creating Citizens for the Twenty-First Century
Chapter 12 Why Naturalization Should Be Easy: A Response to Noah Pickus
Part 13 Part III. Multiple Memberships?
Chapter 14 Plural Citizenships
Chapter 15 Why Immigrants Want Dual Citizenship (And We Should Too): A Response to Peter Schuck
Chapter 16 Alienage Classification in a Nation of Immigrants: Three Models of "Permanent" Residence
Chapter 17 Membership and American Social Contracts: A Response to Hiroshi Motomura
Chapter 18 Index