Definition of Allegiance

By allegiance ls meant the obligation of fidelity and obedience which the individual owes to the government under which he lives or to hls sovereign in return for the protection he receives. It may be an absolute and permanent obligation or it may be a qualified and temporary 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 renounces it and becomes a citizen or subject of another government or another sovereign. The alien, while domiciled in the country, owes a local and temporary allegiance, which continues during the period of his residence. Carlisle v. U. S., 16 Wall. 154, 21 In Ed. 426; Jackson v. Goodell, 20 Johns. (N. Y.) 191; U. S. v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U. S. 649, 18 Sup. Ct. 456, 42 In Ed. 890; Wallace v. Harmstad, 44 Pa. 501. "The tie or ligamen which binds the subject [or citizen] to the king [or government] in return for that protection which the king [or government] affords the subject, [or citizen."] 1 Bl. Comm. 366. It consists in "a true and faithful obedience of the subject due to hls sovereign." 7 Coke, 4b. Allegiance is the obligation of fidelity and obedienco which every citizen owes to the sinte. Pol. Code Cal. § 55. In Norman French. Alleviation; relief; redress. Kelhain.
—Local allegiance. That measure of obedience which la due from a subject of one government to another government, within whose territory he la temporarily resident.
—Natural allegiance. In English law. That hind of allegiance which ls due from all men bom within the king's dominions, immediately upon their birth, which is intrinsic and perpetual, and cannot be divested by any act of their own. 1 Bl. Comm. 369; 2 Kent, Comm. 42. In American law. The allegiance due from citizens of the United States to their ftlive country, and also from naturalized citizens, and which cannot be renounced without the permission of government, to be declared by law. 2 Kent, Comm. 43-49. It differs from local allegiance, which Is temporary only, being due from an alien or stranger bom for so long a time as he continues within the sovereign's dominions and protection. Fost. Cr. Law, 184.