I’m as much an originalist in constitutional matters as anyone, but the “natural born citizen” requirement has really lost a lot of its relevance in an age when international travel and intermarriage between citizens and non-citizens has become so common.
That all makes natural born more important as the reason for it is attachment to the country. Being born elsewhere carries psychological attachments.
Many argue that the 2nd Amendment has lost a lot of relevance in the modern age.
It’s become more relevant.
If I wanted to be “the united states of whoever happens to fly in on a business trip”, then I’d be okay with Angela Merkl running for US president.
I’m in favor of no one but a THIRD generation American being eligible. I want it tougher, not easier.
“I’m as much an originalist in constitutional matters as anyone, but the “natural born citizen†requirement has really lost a lot of its relevance in an age when international travel and intermarriage between citizens and non-citizens has become so common.”
On the contrary, it has made the issue far more relevant than before, and consideration should be given to extend the prohibition to other governmental positions as was traditional in most legal history before the Constitution. The traditional prohibition against more than one allegiance and more than one nationality or citizenship should also be re-established and enforced. Otherwise, the concept of independent governance and constitutional limitations upon the delegation of powers from a sovereign citizenry is rendered moot.