Moscow, ID asked in Constitutional Law for Idaho

Q: Article II Section I includes clause 'or a citizen of the United States;' what does this clause mean? Why is it there?

This clause is part of the original constitution of the United States of America and follows "No person except a natural born Citizen;" how is this not interpreted to mean that any citizen of the United States, natural born or (emphasis on the or) not can run for the presidency?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Robert Jason De Groot
Robert Jason De Groot
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Deltona, FL

A: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

How is it not interpreted to mean what? The question is confusing. How about this one. None of the recent presidents, and for hundreds of years at this stage, were any "at the time of the adoption of this constitution," a natural born citizen. All have been citizens.

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