The term native born citizen is a legal term of art most prominently used in Article II of the United States Constitution as a qualification for the Presidency. For all purposes other than the requirements for the Presidency United States law treats both native born and naturalized citizens equally. Article II, section 5 states that "no person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the Adoption of" the Con...
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The term native born citizen is a legal term of art most prominently used in Article II of the United States Constitution as a qualification for the Presidency. For all purposes other than the requirements for the Presidency United States law treats both native born and naturalized citizens equally. Article II, section 5 states that "no person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the Adoption of" the Constitution "shall be eligible to the Office of President."
Legally a native born American is someone who is a citizen of the United States at the moment of birth, as opposed to foreign born Americans who were not citizens at birth. For example, Senator John McCain was born outside the United States in Panama but was a citizen at birth because he was born to citizen parents at a military base; thus making him eligible for the Presidency (because he was also a resident for 14 years). In the United States as in Canada, Mexico and the general rule...
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