Which principle states that a person’s nationality at birth is determined by the territory within which he or she was born?

Which principle states that a person’s nationality at birth is determined by the territory within which he or she was born?

• A. law of blood
• B. law of soil
• C. naturalization
• D. resident

Answer: (B)

Birthright citizenship is determined by the place of birth in many countries, a principle called jus soli, the law of soil. Under jus soli, being born on the country’s territory grants you citizenship automatically, regardless of your parents’ nationality. This matches the idea that nationality at birth depends on where you were born. By contrast, jus sanguinis—the law of blood—uses the nationality of the parents to decide citizenship, not the birthplace. Naturalization is a later path to citizenship, and being a resident is not itself a rule for acquiring citizenship at birth. So this principle best fits the statement.