The Fourteenth Amendment¹ to the U-S Constitution provides that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. However, children born in the United States to foreign diplomatic officers are not entitled to U-S citizenship² at birth. Citizenship may be acquired for those born outside the United States if one or both parents are U.S. citizens. This is called derivative³ （duh-RIHV-uh-tiv） citizenship. The laws that govern derivative citizenship are controlled by Congress, not the Constitution, and are subject to change from time to time. U.S. citizenship can also be granted through a process called naturalization, which carries all the rights, duties, and privileges of citizenship obtained by birth in the U-S, including the right to vote. However, naturalization citizenship is exempt⁴ from eligibility⁵ to become President and immediate⁶ eligibility to be a member of Congress. To apply for naturalization, you must meet certain requirements, including that you be 18 years of age and have been a lawful⁷ permanent resident for five years. You must be of good moral character and loyal to the United States, be able to read, write, speak, and understand basic English, and have a basic knowledge and understanding of the history, governing structure, and Constitution of the United States. You must also be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the U-S and have resided in the state in which you file for citizenship for at least three months immediately preceding the filing. For more information on citizenship and naturalization, contact an attorney who specializes in immigration law.

　　翻译:

　　美国宪法第十四次修正案规定所有出生在美国或者已经入籍者都属于美国公民。但是,外国外交人员在美国所生孩子不能因出生地在美国而成为美国公民。如果父母中有一人或者双方都是美国公民,即使出生在外国同样可以获得美国公民身份,这属于衍生公民身份。衍生公民身份的管辖权属于国会而非宪法,并且会根据需要经常进行修改。美国公民权也可通过入籍的方式获得,入籍包括了所有的权利和义务以及出生地在美国而获得的公民特权,此特权包括投票权。但通过入籍方式得到的公民无资格担任总统也不能在短期内担任国会议员。申请入籍,你必须符合某些要求,包括已满十八岁,已经获得五年的合法永居身份。你必须道德品质好并忠于美国,有阅读、书写、交流和理解基础英语的能力,对美国历史、政府组织、美国宪法有基本的了解并具备以上方面的常识。你必须愿意做出忠于美国的宣誓并在你递交申请的州已经居住至少三个月以上。想了解更多关于公民身份和入籍方面的信息,可咨询移民律师。

　　1 naturalization n. 移入, 移植 法律专业 n. 入籍

　　2 acquire acquired, acquiring

　　（1） 获得；取得 She acquired a knowledge of the English by careful study. 她认真学习而精通英语。

　　Some people go back for their education to acquire another degree or diploma to impress the society.有些人回到学校去接受教育,是想再取得一个学位或一张文凭,以增强自己在社会上的地位。

　　（2） 拥有；得到Some smoking and alcoholic⁸ drinks are an acquired taste and are not in born.抽烟喝酒往往是一种后来习得的嗜好,并不是生来就有的。

　　3 derivative n

　　（1）引出之物；转来之物；衍生物 French is a derivative of Latin. 法语起源于拉丁文。

　　（2） 导数；微商

　　4 subject to v. 使服从, 使遭受

　　5 eligibility n. 适任, 合格

　　6 allegiance n 效忠；忠心；忠诚

　　7 entitle vt. 给……权利（或资格）, 给……题名, 给……称号 v. 授权, 授权

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