NATIONALITY LAWS Act Conferring United States Citizenship Upon Native-born Indians Act approved June 2, 1924 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all noncitizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided, That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property." (43 Stat. 253; 8 U. S. C. 3.) AN ACT TO DIGNIFY AND EMPHASIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP Act. of May 8, 1940, c. 183, § 2, 54 Stat. 178 Whereas some two million young men and women in the United States each year reach the age of twenty-one years; and Whereas it is desirable that the sovereign citizens of our Nation be prepared for the responsibilities and impressed with the significance of their status in our self-governing Republic: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the third Sunday in May each year be, and hereby is, set aside as Citizenship Day and that the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to issue annually a proclamation setting aside that day as a public occasion for the recognition of all who, by coming of age or naturalization, have attained the status of citizenship, and the day shall be designated as "I Am An American Day."i That the civil and educational authorities of States, counties, cities, and towns be, and they are hereby, urged to make plans for the proper observance of this day and for the full instruction of future citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the States and localities in which they reside. Nothing herein shall be construed as changing, or attempting to change, the time or mode of any of the many altogether commend The Act of January 25, 1929 (45 Stat. 1094), specifically confirmed the granting of citizenship by this general act to the Indians composing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, focated in the State of North Carolina. 1 Shortly after the passage by Congress of this joint resolution, the President of the United States issued a proclamation putting the resolution into effect, a part of which says: Now, Therefore, I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, pursuant to the aforesaid Public Resolution (of May 3, 1940), hereby designate Sunday, May 19, 1940, as "I Am An American Day" and I urge that the day be observed as a public occasion in recognition of our citizens who have attained their majority or who have been naturalized within the past year. Since 1940, similar presidential proclamations have been issued annually. 852 able observances of similar nature now being held from time to time, or periodically, but, to the contrary, such practices are hereby praised and encouraged. SEO. 2. Either at the time of the rendition of the decree of naturalization or at such other time as the judge may fix, the judge or someone designated by him shall address the newly naturalized citizen upon the form and genius of our Government and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship; it being the intent and purpose of this section to enlist the aid of the judiciary, in cooperation with civil and educational authorities, and patriotic organizations in a continuous effort to dignify and emphasize the significance of citizenship. NATURALIZATION OF ALIENS ARRIVING IN UNITED STATES PRIOR TO SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY [Act approved July 2, 1940] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any alien who at the time of entering the United States is less than sixteen years of age may upon attaining the age of twenty-one years, if eligible to citizenship, be naturalized upon full and complete compliance with all the requirements of the naturalization laws, subject to the following exceptions: (a) No declaration of intention shall be required; and (b) The petition for naturalization shall be filed within one year after such alien attains the age of twenty-one years. 883 Sec. 2. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing its application to aliens who entered the United States prior to its enactment. (54 Stat. 715-716; 8 U. S. C. 375a.) Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 Act approved Sept. 16, 1940, as amended. REGISTRATION OF MALE CITIZENS AND EVERY OTHER MALE RESIDENT; AGE LIMITATIONS SEC. 2. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall be the duty of every male citizen of the United States, and of every other male person residing in the United States, who, on the day or days fixed for the first or any subsequent registration, is between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five, to present himself for and submit to registration at such time or times and place or places, and in such manner and in such age group or groups, as shall be determined by rules and regulations prescribed hereunder. Stat. 885; 50 U. S. C. 802.) (54 See Selective Service Regulations for Class IV-C: Neutral aliens requesting relief from liability and unacceptable alien enemies. Section 1, Act of December 20, 1941 (Public Law 860, 77th Cong.; 50 U. 8. C. 802). Prior thereto, sec. 2, Act of September 16, 1940 (54 Stat. 885; 50 U. S. C. 802), read as follows: "SEC. 2. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall be the duty of every male citizen of the United States, and of every male allen residing in the United States, who, on the day or days fixed for the first or any subsequent registration, is between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-six, to present himself for and submit to registration at such time or times and place or places, and in such manner and in such age group or groups, as shall be determined by rules and regulations prescribed hereunder." PERSONS LIABLE FOR TRAINING AND SERVICE; AGE NEUTRAL ALIENS REQUESTING RELIEF FROM LIABILITY AND UNACCEPTABLE ALIEN ENEMY SEO. 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of twenty and forty-five at the time fixed for his registration, or who attains the age of twenty after having been required to register pursuant to section 2 of this Act, shall be liable for training and service in the land or naval forces of the United States: Provided, That any citizen or subject of a neutral country shall be relieved from liability for training and service under this Act if, prior to his induction into the land or naval forces, he has made application to be relieved from such liability in the manner prescribed by and in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the President, but any person who makes such application shall thereafter be debarred from becoming a citizen of the United States: Provided further, That no citizen or subject of any country who has been or who may hereafter be proclaimed by the President to be an alien enemy of the United States shall be inducted for training and service under this Act unless he is acceptable to the land or naval forces." (54 Stat. 885; 50 U. S. C. 803.) * Section 2, Act of December 20, 1941 (Public Law 360, 77th Cong., 50 U. S. C. 303). Prior thereto, the first sentence of sec. 3 (a), Act of September 18, 1940 (54 Stat. 885; 50 U. S. C. 303), read as follows: "Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every male citizen of the United States, and every male alien residing in the United States who has declared his intention to become such a citizen, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-six at the time fixed for his registration, shall be liable for training and service in the land or naval forces of the United States." See $303, 305, 306, Act of October 14, 1940 (54 Stat. 1140, 1141, 1142; 8 U. S. C. 703, 705. 706), p. 230 to p. 232, respectively, for other provisions concerning eligibility for naturalization. Nationality Act of 1940 An Act to revise and codify the nationality laws of the United States into a comprehensive nationality code, approved October 14, 1940 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the nationality laws of the United States are revised and codified as follows: TITLE I TITLE OF ACT SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Nationality Act of 1940. (54 Stat. 1137; 8 U. S. C. 907.) CHAPTER I-DEFINITIONS DEFINITIONS AS USED IN THE ACT SEO. 101. For the purposes of this Act (a) The term "national" means a person owing permanent allegiance to a state. (b) The term "national of the United States" means (1) a citizen of the United States, or (2) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States. It does not include an alien. (c) The term "naturalization" means the conferring of nationality of a state upon a person after birth. (d) The term "United States" when used in a geographical sense means the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. (e) The term "outlying possessions" means all territory, other than as specified in subsection (d), over which the United States exercises rights of sovereignty, except the Canal Zone. (f) The term "parent" includes in the case of a posthumous child a deceased parent. (g) The term "minor" means a person under twenty-one years of age. (54 Stat. 1137; 8 U. S. C. 501.) SEO. 102. For the purposes of chapter III of this Act (a) The term "State" includes (except as used in subsection (a) of section 301), Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. (b) The term "naturalization court," unless otherwise particularly described, means a court authorized by subsection (a) of section 301 to exercise naturalization jurisdiction. (c) The term "clerk of court" means a clerk of a naturalization court. (d) The terms "Commissioner" and "Deputy Commissioner" mean the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization and a Deputy Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, respectively. (e) The term "Attorney General" means the Attorney General of the United States. |