Acquired Allegiance in United Kingdom

Meaning of Acquired Allegiance

The following is an old definition of Acquired Allegiance [1]: Such allegiance as is due from a naturalized citizen. Local allegiance. Such allegiance as is due from an alien, or stranger born, as long as he continues within the king’s dominions and protection. Natural allegiance. Such allegiance as is due from all men born within the king’s dominions, immediately upon their birth. Also called absolute or permanent allegiance. Allegiance is nothing more than the tie or duty of obedience of a subject to the sovereign whose protection he is under. Allegiance by birth arises from being born within the dominions and under the protection of a particular sovereign. . A person born on the ocean is a subject of the prince to whom his parents owe allegiance. The child of an ambassador is a subject of the prince whom he represents, al though born under the actual protection and in the dominions of a foreign prince. Allegiance is the obligation of fidelity and obedience which the individual owes to the government under which he lives, or to his sovereign in return for the protection he receives. . It may be an absolute and permanent obligation, or a qualified and tempo rary one. The citizen or subject owes an absolute and permanent allegiance to his government or sovereign, or, at least, until, by some open and distinct act, he re nounces it and becomes a citizen or subject of another government or sovereign. ” An alien whilst domiciled in the country owes a local and temporary allegiance, which continues during the period of his residence. At common law natural sillegiance could not be renounced except by permission of the sovereign to whom it was due. This was changed by the act of Congress of July 27, 1868, and by statute of 33 Vict. 14, May 10, 1870. Whether naturalized allegiance revives upon return of the naturalized citizen to his native country is not settled. See Expatriation; Indian; Naturalization; Treason: War.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Concept of Acquired Allegiance provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)