The article deliberates the relevance of T. H. Marshall in the field of the theory of citizenship. On the basis of his work on citizenship and social class, it highlights several relevant features for studying citizenship. With the trinity of citizenship rights as the point of departure, the author re-evaluates the field of citizenship rights with reference to the relevant literature. By intersecting the dichotomies of public-private and active-passive, the category of participation rights is introduced. The typology of citizenship rights thus formed is then empirically tested on a sample of thirty selected states. By differentiating between de iure and de facto citizenship rights, the author demonstrates clear links with relevant theoretical assumptions in the field and points out the need for continuous empirical examination of theories which are rarely tested (either case-by-case or using coherent international comparisons). He concludes with a reflection on the mark T. H. Marshall left on contemporary scholars in the field.