Legal Definitions - federal citizen

A federal citizen refers to an individual who holds citizenship in the United States of America. This status grants them certain fundamental rights, privileges, and responsibilities under federal law and in relation to the federal government, distinct from any specific state citizenship they may also hold. Essentially, it means being a citizen of the nation as a whole, with all the legal implications that entails at the national level.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a federal citizen:

• Imagine a person living in Texas who registers to vote in the upcoming presidential election. When they cast their ballot for President or a U.S. Representative, they are exercising a right as a federal citizen. The election for these offices is governed by federal law, and their ability to participate stems directly from their status as a citizen of the United States, not solely from their residency in Texas.

• Consider an individual planning an international trip who applies for a U.S. passport. The U.S. Department of State, a federal agency, issues passports exclusively to federal citizens. The passport serves as official proof of their American citizenship and allows them to travel internationally under the protection of the U.S. government, demonstrating a direct relationship with the federal authority.

• Suppose someone applies for a job with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). To be eligible for such a position, applicants must typically be federal citizens. This requirement ensures that individuals working for a federal agency, especially one involved in national security or sensitive research, owe their primary allegiance to the United States and are subject to federal laws and security clearances associated with that national status.