What term best describes a legal member of a state and/or country?

What term best describes a legal member of a state and/or country?

• A. immigrant
• B. legal permanent resident
• C. citizen
• D. resident

Answer: (C)

A citizen is someone who is a legal member of a country, with the rights and duties that come with membership. This includes protections under the law and participation in the political process, such as the right to vote and, in many places, to run for public office. It also includes responsibilities like obeying laws and, in some countries, duties such as paying taxes or serving on juries.

Different terms describe other statuses. An immigrant is a person who moves to a country to live but isn’t necessarily a citizen. A legal permanent resident is someone who is allowed to live and work there permanently but who hasn’t obtained citizenship yet. A resident is anyone who lives in a place, which doesn’t automatically imply citizenship. Because citizenship combines both the legal membership and the rights and duties that come with it, it best describes a legal member of a state.