But a state is composite, like any other whole
made up of many parts; these are the citizens, who compose it. It is
evident, therefore, that we must begin by asking, Who is the
citizen, and what is the meaning of the term? For here again there may
be a difference of opinion. He who is a citizen in a democracy will
often not be a citizen in an oligarchy. Leaving out of consideration
those who have been made citizens, or who have obtained the name of
citizen any other accidental manner, we may say, first, that a citizen
is not a citizen because he lives in a certain place, for resident
aliens and slaves share in the place; nor is he a citizen who has no
legal right except that of suing and being sued; for this right may be
enjoyed under the provisions of a treaty. Nay, resident aliens in many
places do not possess even such rights completely, for they are
obliged to have a patron, so that they do but imperfectly
participate in citizenship, and we call them citizens only in a
qualified sense, as we might apply the term to children who are too
young to be on the register, or to old men who have been relieved from
state duties. Of these we do not say quite simply that they are
citizens, but add in the one case that they are not of age, and in the
other, that they are past the age, or something of that sort; the
precise expression is immaterial, for our meaning is clear.
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