In this seminar, we will critically assess the concept of citizenship in a democracy. Through engagement with a variety of philosophical, historical, and legal sources, we will examine the evolution of citizenship in American law from Dred Scott to Jim Crow, the period of Chinese exclusion, the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act granting U.S. citizenship to indigenous people, recent litigation over the citizenship of American nationals in certain territories, and contemporary efforts to legalize unauthorized migrants. We will also consider what people might mean by "equal citizenship" today and whether the institution of citizenship remains an appropriate vehicle for pursuing egalitarian aspirations.
