[Larry - Moe and Curly]

“No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution,”

What’s the difference between a natural born Citizen and a Citizen at the time of the adoption of the Constitution?

Both are “Citizens”, right? What’s the difference?

I looked again at Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 and see no mention of “naturalized” citizens. All I see are “natural born Citizens”, and “Citizens”. Naturalized citizens were ceated later by Congress.

[highball]

What’s the difference between a natural born Citizen and a Citizen at the time of the adoption of the Constitution?

Both are “Citizens”, right? What’s the difference?

The Founders gave themselves, and everyone of their generation, an exemption from the "natural born" requirement. They figured if you were already living in the US at the time the Constitution was ratified, it didn't matter where you were born. But going forward, all Presidential aspirants would need citizenship from birth.