SS.7.C.2.1 Benchmark Clarification 3: Students will evaluate the impact of the
naturalization process on society, government, or the political process.
Debates about citizenship and naturalization have had a great impact (effect) on society,
government, and the political process. Citizenship is still sometimes a controversial topic. At
times, Americans have disagreed about who should be granted citizenship by naturalization
and about how difficult the process should be to gain citizenship. Some people question
how long an immigrant should be allowed to live in the U.S. without applying for citizenship.
Political parties have discussed these questions about naturalization in their party
platforms, and candidates’ views about naturalization influence how voters feel about
naturalization and the importance of U.S. citizenship. As more immigrants naturalize and
become involved in the political process, they also influence the debate by voting, running for
office, being selected for public office, and participating in lawmaking.
For example, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was changed in 1975 to require that election
ballots be printed in all of the languages in a county where at least 5% of the citizens living in
that county speak that language. In other words, if 5% of the citizens living in Orange
County, Florida, speak Spanish, then all of the election ballots must be printed in both
Spanish and English. This requirement makes it easier for naturalized citizens from Latin
America to vote because every item on the ballot is printed in Spanish. Since the Voting
Rights Act was changed in 1975, more naturalized U.S. citizens from Latin America vote in
elections. Also, candidates are more likely to include Spanish language commercials and
posters in their campaigns to show that they are reaching out to naturalized citizens.
Florida elected its first Cuban-American U.S. Senator in 2004 (Mel Martinez). Two brothers,
Mario Diaz-Balart and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, represented Florida in the U.S. House of
Representatives for several years. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart was born in Florida
(citizen by law of soil), while Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart was born in Cuba and
became a naturalized citizen.
