What makes a citizen?
 

I live just outside a small city and similarily, just outside a small village. I tend not to paticipate in the activities of the village, and actually very little in the city. Does being a "citizen" require participation or does it simply require residence?

I believe citizenship is a legal construct that requires no more than meeting the requirements set down in specific laws.
Citizenship and community participation are different concepts.

Pay your taxes, keep within the law, don't leech off of the public welfare.

I guess i mean the spirit of citizenship and not the legality of the concept. It is hard to express my thought but i guess I was wondering about people who just drift through society without interaction. I do interact with others and move in a faily diverce circle of friends and loved ones, I just don't take part in a lot of organized activities outside said circle.

active participation, IMO. i just realized i almost forgot to vote today...but i'll be on my way shortly. point is, that with out some contribution beyond the fiscal, you can't really say that one is helping to govern. and i think a citizen is one who does that, going back to the first greek definitions.

I'd have to agee with chavos, that a citizen has to help the government or local populace run better. This could be just through voting or regular participation. You could always go with the starship trooper few point in that you are only a citizen if you are willing to die for your planet/country/area outside a small city outside a small village

If you are allowed to vote, you are a citizen. If you are the poor schmuck who has to stitch footballs and dig Coltan some some other ass-clown can get rich, you are a slave. This isd the traditional distinction between citizens and non-citizens and is pretty much valid to this day.

Being a citizen is just about residence. Being a helpful, usefull, and caring citizen...now that takes what chavos described.

Citizens in ancient Greek and Roman times where a very clearly defined group of people indeed. Without that kind of defined construct it does become a little messy and a bit of a political football. Personally i think permanant residence would be the only reqirement.

Chavos is indeed the man. Call me patriotic, but I've always thought that there is a difference between a resident and a citizen. I vote, donate blood and participate in my community. That makes me a citizen. Others choose to simply stay at home and mind there own business. That's fine, America is about freedom but I personally would not call them citizens. They are residents.

It really varies from nation to nation as a construct. However, if we are discuessing what makes a good citizen then I think some sense of civil duty/service should be there. The important thing isn't what you do so long as you feel a sense of responsibility to your fellow man and neighbor and want good for them. The broader the concept of neighbor the better, if you ask me.

I wonder where the concept of dual citizenship (or even tri-citizenship if the nations involved allow it).

Dual citizenship refers more to the legality of your rights in two countries...

The broader concept of what it means to be a citizen doesn't necessarily apply.