Originally Posted By: ronnierocketAGO
Off-topic, but I've always supported a Constitutional Amendment extending Presidential eligibility to naturalized citizens. Make them eligible after 20 to 35 years of citizenship.


I agree. As I mentioned, the Founders never began to define "natural born" most likely because none of them were natural born, and they would mostly be dead before a natural born citizen would take office. The concerns that existed then about electing a non-natural born president do not exist today, especially with a much wider electorate and the ease, necessity and practice of international travel. I don't think there is a valid distinction among a US citizen, a natural born citizen and a naturalized citizen for Article II, Section I purposes.

I would set the eligibility requirement for naturalized citizens at 14 years, the same as the residency requirement in the Constitution.