Kodanikud

Kodanikud is Estonian for "citizens" and commonly refers to people who hold the legal status of citizenship in a state or belong to a political community. In Estonia and many other countries, the concept denotes both rights and responsibilities that connect individuals to the state.

Rights and duties: Citizens typically have the right to participate in political processes, such as voting and standing for public office, to obtain protection from the state, and to access certain public services. In exchange, they are expected to follow the law, pay taxes, and, in some contexts, contribute to national defense or public life.

Acquisition and loss: Citizenship is usually acquired by birth, descent, naturalization, or restoration after loss. Countries may set conditions such as residence requirements or language proficiency. In Estonia, the government regulates who is recognised as a citizen and how citizenship can be acquired or lost.

In culture and politics: The term kodanikud appears in political discourse, education, and civic life to describe the community of people connected to the state by citizenship. It is used in discussions of national identity, civic rights, and participation in public life.

See also: Citizenship Act, Civic education, National identity.