> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nationalism.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nationalism.io/civic-nationalism/civic-citizenship.md).

# Civic citizenship

In civic nationalism, anyone could potentially become a citizen in another country. This might be possible after a number of years residence in the country. At some point a migrant could be able to take a citizenship test to make sure they have a sufficient amount of civic knowledge and understanding how to live in that society.

## **Complexities with testing civic integration**

Many parts of the citizenship test do not reliably test whether someone will integrate well into the nation-state or not. A language proficiency test is one of the more effective parts of the test as it does at least make it clear whether they can easily communicate using the national language. But this is a very low bar for integrating into the country. Tests around civic knowledge, its constitutions and laws or its history only help to demonstrate some knowledge of these different civic factors. It is very difficult to prove that any individual is actually aligned with the institutions, laws and civic way of life in that country.

## **Complexities with protecting civic institutions and laws**

A civic nationalist system makes an assumption that any individuals can help with protecting civic institutions and laws. The problem with this is the same civic institutions and laws don’t necessarily exist across other countries in the world. It is also an assumption that other populations can create and maintain institutions to the same quality or with the same willingness to follow certain laws and approaches to operating the nation-state. These differences in outcome could be due to intellectual differences between groups or due to persistent cultural differences.

As the demographics change within a civic nationalist society it is hard to say that civic institutions and laws will remain the same. Whether that’s due to genetic differences that lead to different outcomes due to things like intelligence or whether it’s due to cultural differences that groups did not abandon when they migrated into the country. A civic system assumes that once they make an oath to accept the constitutional values of the nation that they fully agree with the civic way of life in that country and that they won’t try to change it based on their actual preferences or to benefit their own group.

## **Civic nationalist citizenship tests**

Citizenship tests within a civic nationalist society can cover some of the following areas:

* **Language proficiency** - Ability to speak, read, or write the national language.
* **Civic knowledge** - Knowledge of nations history, institutions, laws, symbols, workplace expectations and school, health and political systems.
* **National history knowledge** - Knowledge about the national flag, national anthem, major public holidays or important historical events with a basic understanding of why these are commemorated.
* **Commitment to constitutional principles -** Acceptance of the constitution, rule of law, democracy, etc.
* **Residence and social participation -** Has long-term residence and evidence of integration into daily life such as employment, schooling and local participation. This can be hard to test for beyond providing some one-off proof that someone is working, in school or participating locally in different initiatives.

These tests are acceptable for ensuring the individual has a basic understanding of the nation they are becoming a citizen in and that they are participating through employment or schooling. But beyond this a civic citizenship test does not reliably protect civic institutions over the long term nor does it protect the culture and long-established ancestral group.