The fourteenth amendment of the constitution, ( <---- Note that this IS the Constitution as amendments are part of the Constitution.)
in the declaration that 'all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside,' ( <---- See what the Supreme Court did? It quoted the Constitution.)
contemplates two sources of citizenship, and two only,-birth and naturalization. (<---- Do you see a magic third form of citizenship? You don't? You know why? The Constitution only recognizes TWO forms of citizenship. You are either born a citizen or you acquire citizenship through naturalization.)
Now, we all agree that Ted Cruz is a citizen of the United States. Was he naturalized? No. He was born a citizen of the United States. If that is the case, then he is eligible to be President.
Now you may argue that the Constitution says the magic phrase "natural born citizen", but the Constitution (same document) doesn't recognize a "special" form of citizenship. You are a citizen only by being born with citizenship or becoming a naturalized citizen. That is why the quote above makes clear with its line 'contemplates two sources of citizenship, and two only,-birth and naturalization.'
The argument is a farce and flies in the face of several rulings by the Supreme Court over issues of citizenship.
Just trying to understand. Accepting the premise that there are only two methods of acquiring citizenship (1. being born "in" the United States and 2. naturalization "in" the United States), does a person born "outside" the United States to a United States citizen acquire citizenship through birth or naturalization?
I must respond because of the sad amount on constitutional ignorance being argued with such futility. Please don”t confuse Citizenship with eligibility to be president. Please read Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution sets the requirements to hold office. A president must:
be a natural-born citizen of the United States;[note 1]
be at least thirty-five years old;
have been a permanent resident in the United States for at least fourteen years.
“Natural born” means born inside the borders of this country. That is why Henry Kissinger could not be president— Arnold Swartznager could not be president and why Ted Cruz cannot be president. It is right there in the constitution. It is so foreign born cannot invade the country and take it over.
I will gladly Amend it to allow Canadian born but until there is an amendment ,we who love the Constitution must read it.