Naturalized Presidents
Franklyn Fawundu
Civics
Period6
5/13/14
Naturalized Citizens as President
The framers as Thomas Jefferson put it “an assembly of demi-gods” are respected for their phenomenal work; the constitution which has been the guide for the nation since its creation. However, there are a few debates concerning some aspects of this work of the “gods”. The argument concerning the eligibility of a naturalized citizen holding the most important office in the world has been one of the topics of debate since the framers created the constitution. As the constitution says, “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” (Article II, Section I). However some Americans don’t agree with this clause and are urging an immediate revision or amendment of its provision. The United States Constitution should be amended to allow a naturalized citizen to be elected president of the United States as it is a democratic nation.
The framers at the time of creating the constitution had fears of European monarchs and dukes from England bringing confusion within the young country and taking over it. A historian from the University of Alabama in document two, Forrest McDonald while testifying before a house subcommittee three years ago also emphasized the relevance of this point leading to the “only natural-born citizen” clause. He recalled that “delegates to the American constitutional convention of 1787 feared foreign influence, especially after Austria, Prussia, and Russia rigged the election of a new monarch in Poland, subsequently dividing the hapless nation among themselves”. This fear was played a vital role in the birth of the natural-born citizen.
This fear the framers had two hundred years ago is however not a major problem today as the nation is less fragile and experienced with such matters. The nation’s immigrant population as the author of document two puts
Civics
Period6
5/13/14
Naturalized Citizens as President
The framers as Thomas Jefferson put it “an assembly of demi-gods” are respected for their phenomenal work; the constitution which has been the guide for the nation since its creation. However, there are a few debates concerning some aspects of this work of the “gods”. The argument concerning the eligibility of a naturalized citizen holding the most important office in the world has been one of the topics of debate since the framers created the constitution. As the constitution says, “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” (Article II, Section I). However some Americans don’t agree with this clause and are urging an immediate revision or amendment of its provision. The United States Constitution should be amended to allow a naturalized citizen to be elected president of the United States as it is a democratic nation.
The framers at the time of creating the constitution had fears of European monarchs and dukes from England bringing confusion within the young country and taking over it. A historian from the University of Alabama in document two, Forrest McDonald while testifying before a house subcommittee three years ago also emphasized the relevance of this point leading to the “only natural-born citizen” clause. He recalled that “delegates to the American constitutional convention of 1787 feared foreign influence, especially after Austria, Prussia, and Russia rigged the election of a new monarch in Poland, subsequently dividing the hapless nation among themselves”. This fear was played a vital role in the birth of the natural-born citizen.
This fear the framers had two hundred years ago is however not a major problem today as the nation is less fragile and experienced with such matters. The nation’s immigrant population as the author of document two puts