The definition of both "national" and "national of the United States can be found in 8 U.S. Code § 1101.
(21) The term “national” means a person owing permanent allegiance to a state.
(22) The term “national of the United States” means (A) a citizen of the United States, or (B) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States.
This multiple use of how the term national is used is why there is a great deal of public confusion as to the definition of "national." The definition (21) is the definition that is the focus of this website, www.NationalStatus.info. (22)(B) of this code can be considered a "non-citizen national."
