September 15, 2015
THE BASICS
Topic: Birthright Citizenship and Constitution Day
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day in
United States
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a
combined event that is annually observed in
the United States on September 17. This
event commemorates the formation and
signing of the Constitution of the United
States on September 17, 1787. It also
recognizes all who, by coming of age or by
naturalization, have become US citizens.
Articles
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“Commentary: A deeper debate on immigration is welcome” (Chicago Tribune)
“Conservative Latino Group Pens Letter Opposing GOP Immigration Rhetoric” (NPR)
“Donald Trump and Scott Walker want to repeal birthright citizenship. It’s nearly impossible.” (The
Washington Post)
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“Birthright citizenship looming as a campaign, and constitutional issue” (Constitution Daily)
Opinion pieces
 “What is an American?” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
 “Birthright citizenship is a fundamental American right” (Statesman Journal)
 “Today’s anti-immigrant GOP risks betraying its legacy” (Boston Globe)
Questions to Consider
 Who is a citizen of the United States?
 Where do we find the definition of citizenship?
 Why are the definitions of migrant, refugee, asylum seeker and immigrant important in deciding
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what rights people have?
What is the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution?
What is birthright citizenship?
What is an “anchor” baby? Why might this be an offensive term?
What do other countries’ constitutions say about birthright citizenship? (Constitution Center)
Questions to Consider continued…
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Does birthright citizenship apply to the American-born children of illegal immigrants? What do you
think of efforts to deny automatic citizenship to these children? How would denying them
citizenship affect illegal immigration in the future? (Annenberg Classroom)
Why is “birthright citizenship” a part of the political dialogue in the run up to the 2016 Presidential
election?
How is the right to a nationality guaranteed in constitutions?
How is the issue of birthright citizenship related to overall immigration policy in the United States?
Does the refugee crisis in Europe tell us anything about birthright citizenship?
THE EXTRAS
Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading
 “Andrew Fiala on Ethics: Good citizenship takes commitment” (The Fresno Bee)
 “Trump on Birthright Citizenship” (FactCheck.org)
 “Could Birthright Citizenship Be Undone?” (The Atlantic)
 “3 Things You Should Know About Birthright Citizenship” (NPR)
 “What do other countries’ constitutions say about birthright citizenship?” (Constitution Daily)
Lesson Plans
 “Citizenship and the 14th Amendment: Does it Need Revision?” (HS) (Project Tahoe)
 “Putting the 14th Amendment to the Test” (Constitution Center)
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“Should the U.S. end birthright citizenship?” (Upfront)
What’s the Connection?
Constitutional
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“14th Amendment” (kids.law.com)
 “Ignore Trump – the issue of birthright citizenship has been settled” (opinion) (Los Angeles Times)
Students
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“The 14th Amendment and Birthright Citizenship” (podcast) (Constitution Center)
Oregon State Social Science Standards
8.14. Explain the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
8.18. Examine and analyze important US documents, including (but not limited to) the
Constitution, Bill of Rights, 13th-15th Amendments.
8.19. Examine important Supreme Court decisions prior to 1880 and the impact of the decisions
on government practices, personal liberties, and property rights.
8.20. Analyze the changing definition of citizenship and the expansion of rights.
8.21. Analyze important political and ethical values such as freedom, democracy, equality, and
justice embodied in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the United States
Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
8.26. Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective.
HS.24. Analyze and critique the impact of constitutional amendments.
HS.32. Examine and evaluate documents and decisions related to the Constitution and Supreme
Court decisions (e.g., Federalist Papers, Constitution, Marbury v. Madison, Bill of Rights,
Constitutional amendments, Declaration of Independence).
HS.33. Explain the role of government in various current events.
HS.35. Examine the pluralistic realities of society (e.g., race, poverty, gender, and age),
recognizing issues of equity, and evaluating need for change.
HS.59. Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed to be a critical consumer of information.
HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon form varied or opposing perspectives
or points of view.
CCSS Anchor Standards
2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key
supporting details and ideas.
4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical,
connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or
tone.
6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and
quantitatively, as well as in words.
8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the
reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
We the People Lesson Connections
Middle School, Level 2
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Unit 6, Lesson 29: What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?
High School, Level 3
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Unit 3, Lesson 17: How did the Civil War test and transform the American Constitutional
system?
 Unit 6, Lesson 33: What does it mean to be a citizen?