Citizenship is a legal status and relation between an individual and a state that entails specific legal rights and duties. It is generally used as a synonym for nationality, but in some national laws, citizenship has a more specific meaning and refers to rights and duties that can only be exercised after the age of majority or to rights and duties that can only be exercised in the national territory.

A citizen is a participatory member of a political community. Citizenship is gained by meeting the legal requirements of a national, state, or local government. A nation grants certain rights and privileges to its citizens, and in return, citizens are expected to obey their countrys laws and defend it against its enemies.

Citizenship involves people working together to make positive differences to the society in which they live – locally, nationally, and globally. It is more than a national curriculum subject, and citizenship education involves developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enable people to make their own decisions and to take responsibility for their own lives and communities.

There are two definitions of citizenship: the legal definition, which is the status of having citizenship, and the practice of active citizenship, which involves being an informed and active member of a political community. A good citizen is empowered, exercises their rights, and believes that they can make a difference by doing so.