Citizenship

Abstract

In this book we have examined many facets of the civil law as it applies to those citizens of Great Britain who live and work in England and Wales. Citizenship means that a person is a member of a particular state or country. Without it a person would be ‘stateless’ and have very little status in the world at large. Citizenship therefore is linked with our having ‘nationality’. Nationality is the legal attachment (or belonging) of citizens to a nation as a result of birth, descent, naturalisation or marriage. As a condition of belonging to a nation duties of allegiance to the state are required of us and in return we expect protection by the state.