House of Representatives, Rule of Naturalization

The Founders' Constitution, Vol. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 8, Clause 4, Doc. 8,The University Of Chicago Press ^ | February 3 - 4, 1790 | U.S. House Of Representatives

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He had no doubt the Government had a right to make the admission to citizenship progressive, the Constitution pointed out something of this kind, by the different ages and terms of residence they annexed to the right of holding a seat in this House and in the Senate, and of being chosen President. No inhabitant can become President of the United States, unless he has been an inhabitant fourteen years; which plainly infers that he might have been a citizen for other purposes, with a shorter residence. But it goes still further, it enables Congress to dictate the terms of citizenship to foreigners, and to prevent them from being admitted to the full exercise of the rights of citizenship by the General Government; because it declares that no other than a natural born citizen, or a citizen at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President.

With respect to their interference with the State Governments, he believed it to be improper; and hoped, therefore, that the bill would be confined solely to the objects of the General Government.

Mr. Madison remarked, that the arguments had extended themselves beyond the simple question before the committee, and called into view matters of considerable importance, but of which, at this time, he did not mean to give an opinion. Whether residence is, or is not, a proper quality to be attached to a citizen, is the question? In his own mind, he had no doubt but residence was a proper pre-requisite, and he was prepared to decide in favor of it.

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The original U.S. Representatives discuss at length various methods of qualifying citizenship.

"Progressive" citizenship, acquired step by step, incrementally, is a key point of interest. It seems these Congressmen regarded the natural born citizenship requirement to be the final, determining increment, set by the Constitution, with themselves being able to set only other terms.

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Search “The Founders’ Constitution” for the term natural born citizen:

http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/htsearch?method=and&config=founders&sort=score&words=natural+born+citizen&format=builtin-long&restrict=&exclude=

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