Natural-born-citizen clause

Countries where the president is always a natural-born citizen

The Natural-born-citizen clause is a provision in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution. This clause stipulates that only a natural-born citizen of the United States, or a citizen at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, is eligible to hold the office of President or Vice President.

Text of the Clause

The exact wording of the clause is as follows:

No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

Historical Context

The Natural-born-citizen clause was included in the Constitution to ensure that the President would have a strong allegiance to the United States. The framers of the Constitution were concerned about foreign influence and wanted to prevent any possibility of a foreign-born individual from becoming President and potentially undermining the nation's sovereignty.

Interpretation and Controversies

The interpretation of what constitutes a "natural-born citizen" has been the subject of debate and legal challenges. Generally, it is understood to mean someone who is a citizen of the United States from birth, without needing to go through the naturalization process. This includes individuals born on U.S. soil (jus soli) and those born abroad to U.S. citizen parents (jus sanguinis).

Notable Cases

Several presidential candidates have faced challenges regarding their eligibility under the Natural-born-citizen clause. For example, John McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal Zone, and Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada to a U.S. citizen mother, both faced questions about their eligibility but were ultimately deemed to be natural-born citizens.

Related Clauses and Amendments

The Natural-born-citizen clause is closely related to other constitutional provisions that outline the qualifications for federal officeholders, such as the Eligibility Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment, which defines citizenship.

See Also

• Article Two of the United States Constitution
• President of the United States
• Vice President of the United States
• Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Eligibility Clause