http://www.usnews.com/opinion/artic...al-born-citizen-according-to-the-constitution
In a nutshell, Article II uses the term "natural born citizen" (the only place the term appears) as a qualification to be POTUS, and the framers meant that to include the common law definition, and a geographic component--i.e. born on US soil or territory. The 14th Amendment, passed after the Civil War to clear up citizenship of slaves and make clear that citizenship is a federal issue, also speaks of citizens born in the US or naturalized.
So, anyone who is born on US soil has constitutional citizenship. The other method of obtaining citizenship is through the naturalization process, by statute--which is statutory citizenship. However, the Constitution can't be changed by statute or congressional action. It says what it says and means unless amended. Cruz has statutory citizenship, as opposed to natural born citizenship, which Article II requires in order to be President.
Interesting to ponder...
In a nutshell, Article II uses the term "natural born citizen" (the only place the term appears) as a qualification to be POTUS, and the framers meant that to include the common law definition, and a geographic component--i.e. born on US soil or territory. The 14th Amendment, passed after the Civil War to clear up citizenship of slaves and make clear that citizenship is a federal issue, also speaks of citizens born in the US or naturalized.
So, anyone who is born on US soil has constitutional citizenship. The other method of obtaining citizenship is through the naturalization process, by statute--which is statutory citizenship. However, the Constitution can't be changed by statute or congressional action. It says what it says and means unless amended. Cruz has statutory citizenship, as opposed to natural born citizenship, which Article II requires in order to be President.
Interesting to ponder...
