[Cboldt]

You don't use the constitution yourself. You fail to adhere to the standard you set. See art IV, sec 2 and the 14th amendment. That's all you need. What state was Cruz a citizen of when he was born? If the answer is "none of them," then Cruz was naturalized, as far as legal vernacular goes.

You are resorting to a "popular" framework for your argument, that has no basis in law.

But nevermind that, even if your mind is made up, the point I made in the OP is valid. This issue will be litigated if Cruz becomes the nominee, and the litigation is likely (certain, unless by an activist court) to conclude that Cruz is a naturalized citizen, and then what?

[taxcontrol]

Article I Section 8 of the Constitution EXCLUSIVELY enumerates the power over the rules of naturalization to Congress. That includes who needs to be naturalized and who is naturally born a citizen.

Other than the 14th amendment restraining that authority by re-instating jus soli as justification for citizenship, there is no restriction on Congress’s authority. Those are the facts. Disagree with them if you want to but you can’t change the fact that Congress has exclusive authority to define what ever it wants to with regards to NBC status.

And the current expression of that authority is Title 8 Section 1401 of the US which defines those who are citizens at birth and do not need to be naturalized, i.e. naturally born citizens.