I can think of a reason for the one-year requirement: to keep from spawning generations of US citizens with no connection to the US. However, I can think of no rational reason to exclude children of minors.
Let me clarify: I said that wedlock did not matter, not exactly true as IF Ann were married to an OLDER citizen it would have helped in the Citizenship of her child. Ann being single, (Obama just said he was born to a single mother, another weird gaff) anyway, Ann being single or married to a foreign person does not matter, the law is the same for a single mother as it is for a mother married to a foreigner. Also, you got your facts screwed up on the law, which is easy to do as the law has changed several times. I believe the law required 5 years residence after the age of 14 to pass automatic citizenship to your child on foreign soil, at the time of Obama’s birth. -—— Birth Abroad to Two U.S. Citizen Parents in Wedlock A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under section 301(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provided that one of the parents had a residence in the United States or one of its outlying possessions prior to the child’s birth. The child is considered to be born in wedlock if the child is the genetic issue of the married couple. Birth Abroad to One Citizen and One Alien Parent in Wedlock A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301(g) of the INA provided the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child’s birth. (For birth on or after November 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two after the age of fourteen, is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, a period of ten years, five after the age of fourteen, is required for physical presence in the United States or one of its outlying possessions to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child.) The U.S. citizen parent must be genetically related to the child to transmit U.S. citizenship. Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Father – “New” Section 309(a) A person born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen father may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 301(g) of the INA, as made applicable by the “new” Section 309(a) of the INA provided: 1.A blood relationship between the person and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence; 2.The father had the nationality of the United States at the time of the person’s birth; 3.The father was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions prior to the child’s birth for five years, at least two of which were after reaching the age of 14. 4.The father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to provide financial support for the person until the person reaches the age of 18 years, and 5.While the person is under the age of 18 years — ◦the person is legitimated under the law of his/her residence or domicile, ◦the father acknowledges paternity of the person in writing under oath, or ◦the paternity of the person is established by adjudication of a competent court. Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Father – “Old” Section 309(a) of the INA- A child born out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen father may acquire U.S. citizenship under the former Section 301(a)(7) of the INA as made applicable by the “old” Section 309(a) of the INA if the U.S. citizen father, prior to the child’s birth, had been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for ten years, five of which were after the age of 14, and if the paternity of the child had been established by legitimation prior to the child reaching the age of 21. The “old” Section 309(a) of the INA is applicable to individuals who were 18 on November 14, 1986 and to individuals whose paternity had been established by legitimation prior to that date. Individuals who were at least 15 on November 14, 1986, but under the age of 18, could opt to have their claim determined in accordance with the provisions of either the “old” or the “new” Section 309(a). Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Mother: A person born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 309(c) of the INA if the mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth and if the mother was physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year prior to the person’s birth. The mother must be genetically related to the person in order to transmit U.S. citizenship. Questions: Contact the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate of Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Legal Affairs (CA/OCS/L) at http://www.travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html
Birth Abroad to One Citizen and One Alien Parent in Wedlock
A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301(g) of the INA provided the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child’s birth. (For birth on or after November 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two after the age of fourteen, is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, a period of ten years, five after the age of fourteen, is required for physical presence in the United States or one of its outlying possessions to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child.) The U.S. citizen parent must be genetically related to the child to transmit U.S. citizenship.
http://www.travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html