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A '''natural-born [[citizen]]''' is someone who is born in a country and is given citizenship status because of his native birth, as opposed to [[Immigration|immigrants]] who become citizens by applying for citizenship. In the [[United States]], citizenship is automatically conferred on those who are born within its [[jurisdiction]].  

Natural-born citizenship is one of the requirements for someone to serve as [[President of the United States of America|President of the United States]]. The requirement is found in Article II section I of the [[constitution]]: "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...."

Natural-born citizenship is listed in the United States [[Constitution]] as a requirement of the [[President]], as found in Article II section I: "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...."

There is some discussion over the exact definition of a natural born citizen.  It is clear that someone who was not a citizen from birth, but acquired citizenship through naturalization, is not one.  One view is that all others, meaning anyone who is a citizen from the moment of birth, are natural born citizens.  There are arguments that a third category exists, of those who are citizens from birth by law or status, but are not intended to be considered as natural born. The most common reasons given are that the birth did not take place within the US, or that one of the birth parents was not a US citizen.  Precedents indicate that neither of these conditions will prevent someone from attaining the Presidency.

There has been some controversy as to whether President [[Barack Obama]] is a natural-born citizen because he has not revealed his [[birth certificate]].

Presidential candidate [[John McCain]] was born outside of the US, in Panama, as a citizen at birth because his parents were US citizens.  The senate passed a resolution declaring that he was indeed a natural born citizen. <ref> [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.110SRes511 S.Res.511]: ''A resolution recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural born citizen''; sponsors: Sen. [[Claire McCaskill]], Sen. [[Barack Obama]] ''et al.'' </ref>

*[[Barack Hussein Obama]]

* [[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]], whose father was a citizen of the United Kingdom, being from what was the British colony of Kenya.

 

[[Category:Political Terms]]

[[Category:Political Terms]]