Legal Definitions - national

In a legal context, a "national" is a person who owes permanent allegiance to and is under the protection of a state. A "national of the United States" specifically includes both U.S. citizens and certain non-citizens who owe permanent allegiance to the U.S.

The term "national" can function as both an adjective and a noun in legal contexts, referring to a connection with a country or a person belonging to it.

National (adjective)

This describes something that:

• Is of or relating to a nation, meaning it pertains to a particular country, its people, culture, or government.
• Is nationwide in scope, meaning it extends across the entire geographical area of a country.

Examples:

• A country's national cuisine, such as French gastronomy or Thai food, represents the culinary traditions and identity of that specific nation.

  Explanation: This example illustrates "national" in the sense of something relating to the culture and identity of a particular nation.

• When a severe weather system impacts multiple states, a national weather advisory might be issued, covering the entire country.

  Explanation: Here, "national" signifies that the advisory's scope is nationwide, affecting the whole country.

• The national education system of a country outlines the curriculum and standards for schools across all its regions.

  Explanation: This shows "national" referring to a system that is established and applies across the entire nation.

National (noun)

This refers to:

• A person who is a member of a nation.
• A person who owes permanent allegiance to and is under the protection of a state (a country).

Examples:

• When traveling abroad, a person typically carries a passport that identifies them as a national of their home country, indicating their citizenship or allegiance.

  Explanation: This example uses "national" to refer to an individual who is a member of a specific nation and holds its official documentation.

• An embassy provides consular services, such as emergency assistance, to its nationals who are living or visiting in a foreign country.

  Explanation: Here, "nationals" refers to individuals who are citizens or subjects of the embassy's home country and are entitled to its protection and services.

• International sports competitions often feature teams composed entirely of nationals from a specific country, representing their homeland.

  Explanation: This illustrates "nationals" as individuals who are members of a particular nation and represent it on a global stage.

National of the United States

This specific term refers to:

• A citizen of the United States.
• A noncitizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States.

This means that all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals, but not all U.S. nationals are U.S. citizens.

Examples:

• A person born in California is automatically a U.S. citizen and, therefore, a national of the United States.

  Explanation: This demonstrates how a U.S. citizen automatically falls under the definition of a "national of the United States."

• Residents of American Samoa, while not U.S. citizens, are considered nationals of the United States because they owe permanent allegiance to the U.S. government and are protected by it.

  Explanation: This example highlights the distinction, showing how a noncitizen can still be a "national of the United States" due to their allegiance.

• An immigrant who successfully completes the naturalization process and takes an oath of allegiance becomes a U.S. citizen and, consequently, a national of the United States.

  Explanation: This illustrates how an individual can acquire both U.S. citizenship and the status of a "national of the United States" through legal processes.