Though it could be explicitly granted by the Roman people to non-citizens, Roman citizenship (or civitas) was automatically granted to children whose parents consisted of either two Roman citizens or one citizen and one peregrinus ("foreigner") who possessed connubium (the right to a Roman marriage).
Citizenship allowed for participation in Roman affairs, such as voting rights.
By the time of the 3rd century BC, Romans of all social classes held nominally equal voting rights, though the value of your vote was tied to your personal wealth.
In addition to voting rights, citizenship also made citizens eligible for military service and public office, both of these rights also tied to wealth and property qualifications.

The Latin Rights, which originally encompassed Latium but was then extended to encompass most of Italy, ensured that most of the people in Italy enjoyed the benefits of Roman citizenship but lacked voting rights.
Because they were bound to Rome and often called upon for military service but lacked the rights of the Roman citizens, Rome's Italian allies rebelled in the Social War, after which the Latin Rights in their traditional sense were more or less abolished in favor of a complete integration of the people in Italy as Romans.

Typically, a non-citizen could acquire Roman citizenship through five different mechanisms:
Non-citizens who served in the Roman army were typically granted citizenship.

Men without citizenship could obtain it through holding office in cities and other settlements with the Latin right.

Specific individuals could be granted citizenship directly.

Whole communities could receive "block grants", with all their inhabitants becoming citizens.

Slaves freed by Roman citizens became Roman citizens themselves.
Though it could be explicitly granted by the Roman people to non-citizens, Roman citizenship (or civitas) was automatically granted to children whose parents consisted of either two Roman citizens or one citizen and one peregrinus ("foreigner") who possessed connubium (the right to a Roman marriage). Citizenship allowed for participation in Roman affairs, such as voting rights. By the time of the 3rd century BC, Romans of all social classes held nominally equal voting rights, though the value of your vote was tied to your personal wealth. In addition to voting rights, citizenship also made citizens eligible for military service and public office, both of these rights also tied to wealth and property qualifications.
The Latin Rights, which originally encompassed Latium but was then extended to encompass most of Italy, ensured that most of the people in Italy enjoyed the benefits of Roman citizenship but lacked voting rights. Because they were bound to Rome and often called upon for military service but lacked the rights of the Roman citizens, Rome's Italian allies rebelled in the Social War, after which the Latin Rights in their traditional sense were more or less abolished in favor of a complete integration of the people in Italy as Romans.
Typically, a non-citizen could acquire Roman citizenship through five different mechanisms:
Non-citizens who served in the Roman army were typically granted citizenship.
Men without citizenship could obtain it through holding office in cities and other settlements with the Latin right.
Specific individuals could be granted citizenship directly.
Whole communities could receive "block grants", with all their inhabitants becoming citizens.
Slaves freed by Roman citizens became Roman citizens themselves.
Roman people