Citizenship as foundation of rights : Meaning for America / Richard Sobel.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-222) and index.

Contents note:
1. Introduction. Empowering citizenship;
2. The nature of American citizenship as the foundation of rights;
3. The right to vote;
4. The right to employment;
5. The right to travel;
6. Threats to citizenship rights in identification regime;
7. Other countries' systems constitute warnings;
8. Conclusions. Sustaining empowering citizenship.

"Citizenship as Foundation of Rights explores the nature and meaning of citizenship and the rights flowing from American citizens in the context of current debates around politics including immigration. The book explains the sources of citizenship rights in the Constitution and focuses on three key citizenship rights - the right to vote, the right to employment, and the right to travel in the US. It explains why those rights are fundamental and how national identification systems and ID requirements to vote, work and travel undermine the fundamental citizen rights. Richard Sobel analyzes how protecting citizens' rights preserves them for future generations of citizens and aspiring citizens here. No other book offers such a clarification of fundamental citizen rights and explains how ID schemes contradict and undermine the constitutional rights of American citizenship"-- Provided by publisher.

"The foundational nature of United States citizenship and the rights deriving from it constitute essential bedrocks of American democracy. Citizenship as Foundation of Rights explores the unique constitutional and political empowerments and ramifications of American citizenship. It advances this understanding by explicating the nature, foundations, meanings, powers, and consequences of American citizenship in its rights for politics, work, and travel"-- Provided by publisher.