[trumandogz]

Please cite a court ruling or federal legislation which defines natural born citizen as only those who were born in the US and have two parents who were also American citizens at the time of the birth of said child.

[frogjerk]

Please cite a court ruling or federal legislation which defines natural born citizen as only those who were born in the US and have two parents who were also American citizens at the time of the birth of said child.

There is none but that doesn't mean what I stated is not true. A state, probably the only entity that has standing in this question, has not yet reached the Supreme Court for a ruling. Also, there were no court rulings when the Courts began adjudicating cases in this country so how were common question solved where there was no previous rulings or laws on the books? Maybe English Common law, Law of Nations, Blackstone, etc...

[DiogenesLamp]

trumandogz says:

“Please cite a court ruling or federal legislation which defines natural born citizen as only those who were born in the US and have two parents who were also American citizens at the time of the birth of said child.”

Okay, the “Naturalization Act of 1790”. It was passed by the FIRST Congress, (meaning pretty much the same guys that WROTE the constitution, so I think they know what they are talking about.)

It says, and I quote the salient part:

“And the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens: Provided, that the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States: . . .”

And here is the link in case you want to read it yourself.

http://web.me.com/joelarkin/MontereyDemographicHistory/Naturalization_1790.html

Basically it says that NO WAY can a man with a foreign born father be even a citizen, let alone a “Natural Born Citizen.”

[Political Junkie Too]

The problem I have with "please cite" requests for plain-meaning terms is where does it end? Can you cite a ruling that defines a "state?" The Constitution talks about the relationship between the states, the people, and the federal government, but we don't question the meaning of "state." What does that mean for the standing of, say, Massachusetts? They call themselves a commonwealth; does that invalidate their participation in the United States? So why demand a citation for natural born citizen when that was plainly understood the time?

-PJ