Citizen Quote by Samuel Freeman Miller
“Naturalization is the process by which a citizen, or subject of a foreign nation or kingdom, is made a citizen of the United States. It is evident that the Constitutional Convention thought that it was important that this process should be placed under the exclusive control of the Federal Government and not of the States.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Constitutional Convention Debates, 1787
The federal government should exclusively control naturalization, not individual states.
In simple terms: Federal control over citizenship.
Support federal oversight.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legal education
- immigration reform
- state‑federal relations
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Should states have a role in citizenship decisions?
- How does federal control affect national unity?
States may claim rights to regulate immigration.