government question

Student Learning Outcome:  What is a citizen? 70% of students will successfully research and evaluate a proposed “birthright citizenship” of the 14th Amendment, and its potential impact on American society.

Activity for Assessment:

There are many individuals and groups that propose constitutional change, and one popular voice, George Will, has suggested a change in how we view citizenship.

Read the following two articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032603077.html

And

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/01/china-us-birth-tourism_n_7187180.html

As is, the 14th Amendment allows for automatic natural-born citizen status for anyone born on U.S. soil.  With the U.S. being considered a destination for "birth tourism", should the 14th Amendment be reinterpreted to force more strict requirements for citizenship? Research the term "birth tourism" and how birth tourism impacts (or may impact) our system and resources.  Then, based on your research and your reading of the two required articles, answer the following questions:

1.) Which areas in the U.S. are seeing the most birth tourism?

2.) From which countries are we seeing most activity?

3.) What are some of the economic pros and cons of birth tourism in the United States?

4.) How does the 14th Amendment impact the issue of citizenship and what are the arguments currently regarding a possible reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment?

5.) Finally, based on your reading and research, what are your thoughts about this issue? Do you believe the 14th Amendment should be reinterpreted to require one parent be an American citizen?  Why or why not? Do you believe U.S. citizenship should be harder to come by?  Why or why not?

This assignment must follow MLA guidelines, be typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and be a minimum of 2-3 pages with a works cited page.  The works cited are not included in the minimum page count. 

Remember the MLA must be double-spaced and include the proper header and paper title as well as in-text citations.  If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, please visit the Student Resources tab in our class and view the Writing Information folder OR see the Academic Skills center on the Central Campus at NLC.  If you need a reminder about assignment guidelines, please review them under the "Course Information" tab.