Law of the Soil


Law of the Soil

A citizenship law stating that all or nearly all persons born in the physical jurisdiction of a state are citizens of that state. That is, under the law of the soil, the citizenship of one's parents is irrelevant. What matters is where one is born. The United States is a major example of a country abiding by law of the soil. Some countries also follow the law of blood in addition to the law of the soil.