Professor Chris Goodman, "The Devolution of Democratic Citizenship" -- Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy

Professor Christine Chambers Goodman's article, "The Devolution of Democratic Citizenship," (SSRN) is published in the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, Vol. 30, No. 4, 2021. The article considers the meaning of American citizenship and how to modify its devolutionary path.

Abstract of "The Devolution of Democratic Citizenship"

The actual operation of United States citizenship today shows a dilution worse than during the decline of ancient Rome. The notion of duty and obligation, whether evidenced in voluntary military service or voluntary voting, has diminished to the point of no longer being a valid measure for who is a good or bad citizen. After an introduction in part one, this Article provides a brief history of the early Greek and Roman notions of citizenship and its devolution in the modern United States in part two. Next, parts three and four draw upon international norms and practices to evaluate three strategies for enhancing the meaning of U.S. citizenship: modifying birthright citizenship, mandatory (military) service, and universal civic duty voting. Part five concludes the Article with suggestions for more accurately characterizing, and effectuating, the meaning of American citizenship and strategies to modify the devolutionary path in a direction that more fully satisfies our democratic ideals.