Casestudy

Argel T. Cruz

2 December 2007

POLIGOV

CASE ANALYSIS: Citizenship

Melanie was born in the United States of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. When she reached majority age, she decided to elect Philippine citizenship. His parents never applied for American citizenship.

1. Applying the principles of jus soli and jus sanguinis, how many citizenships did Melanie have at the time of birth? Explain. (5pts.)

Melanie has three nationalities at the time of her birth, namely Chinese and Filipina (Jus Sanguinis), and American (Jus Soli). By the time of her birth, based on the concept of jus sanguinis, her nationality was a Chinese and a Filipina. Jus sanguinis means that citizenship can be recognized to any individual born to a parent who is a national or citizen of that state (her parents was a Chinese and a Filipina). On the perspective of jus soli, she is an American on the time of birth. Jus soli means that citizenship can be recognized to any individual born in the territory of the related state (she was born in the United States).

2. Based on the 1987 Philippine Constitution, what is now the citizenship of Melanie? (5pts.)

Based on the 1987 Constitution, “Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines”, therefore Melanie is a Filipina.