Still, I think it shows that someone is going to have to define what natural born citizenship is: Congress or the courts. Until that is done, how does anyone determine elegibility under the Constitutiion.
The statutes written by the State Dept and the INS over the years are what has typically been used to determine it. That is why Obama, if born abroad, does not qualify.
In the strictest sense Donofrio is correct.
However, US officers and military personnel working abroad who have children born abroad are in the sense like an ambassador under the jurisdiction of the United States and receive their US citizenship through jus sanguinis and jus soli (US controlled territory or base).
In many nations where our troops are stationed, there are Status Forces agreements between the host nation and the United States. The only reason to have such agreements is because are troops are not citizens of host nations.
But like you said, SCOTUS needs to define natural born citizenship.
Websters Dictionary and a class in logic is all that is required.
You are either Naturalized or Natural Born.
If you are recognized as a US Citizen, and there is no question of that point, and you were a US Citizen from the moment of birth, you are a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN!
You said — “Still, I think it shows that someone is going to have to define what natural born citizenship is: Congress or the courts. Until that is done, how does anyone determine elegibility under the Constitutiion.”
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Another Bingo! Bingo!
The conversation is getting *mighty intelligent* now!
You’re very right...