When they ask are you a citizen of the United States, everyone says 'yes'.
Not that we really are.....it's just the reply our public school educations taught us to give.
The Founders repeatedly used the term Citizen of a State, as have several courts.
From the California Supreme court:
I have no doubt that those born in the Territories, or in the District of Columbia, are so far citizens as to entitle them to the protection guaranteed to citizens of the United States** in the Constitution, and to the shield of nationality abroad; but it is evident that they have not the political rights which are vested in citizens of the States. They are not constituents of any community in which is vested any sovereign power of government. Their position partakes more of the character of subjects than of citizens. They are subject to the laws of the United States**, but have no voice in its management. If they are allowed to make laws, the validity of these laws is derived from the sanction of a Government in which they are not represented. Mere citizenship they may have, but the political rights of citizens they cannot enjoy until they are organized into a State, and admitted into the Union.
[People v. De La Guerra, 40 Cal. 311, 342 (1870]
If you are a State Citizen, you are one of the People and have all you inalienable right attached.
If you claim to be a citizen of the United States, or a 'U.S. citizen', you are a subject, and government tells you what part of your property you get to keep.
I would be grateful if you would provide a link.
Thank you.
Is there any California court decisions more recent than 1870 that uphold the ‘state citizen only’ concept?
I’d like to know, I live in Calif.