Changes

Therefore, there is still discussion over exactly who meets the 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.

Therefore, there is still discussion over exactly who meets the 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.

Presidential candidate [[John McCain]] was born outside of the US, in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory within Panama administered by the United States,<ref>http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/panama-canal-zone.jsp</ref> as a citizen at birth because his parents were US citizens.  The senate passed a nonbinding 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>

Presidential candidate [[John McCain]] was born outside of the US, in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory within Panama administered by the United States,<ref>http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/panama-canal-zone.jsp</ref> as a citizen at birth because his parents were US citizens.  The Senate passed a nonbinding 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>

Two presidents were born having a father who was not a citizen.   

Two presidents were born having a father who was not a citizen.   

* [[Chester A. Arthur|Chester Arthur]], born in the U.S. whose father was at that time a citizen of Ireland

* [[Chester A. Arthur|Chester Arthur]] was born in the US (though rumored to have been born in Canada), but his father was at that time a citizen of the [[UK]].

* [[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]], whose father was a subject of the United Kingdom (that is the British colony of Kenya).  However Obama qualifies as a natural born citizen because he was born in Hawaii. As for those who suspect he was born outside the US, he nevertheless meets the criteria, "And the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered natural born citizens: Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States." That is, his mother was a U.S. citizen and his father did live in Hawaii.

* [[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]], whose father was a subject of the United Kingdom (that is the British colony of Kenya).  However Obama qualifies as a natural born citizen because he was born in Hawaii. As for those who suspect he was born outside the US, he nevertheless meets the criteria, "And the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered natural born citizens: Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States." That is, his mother was a U.S. citizen and his father did live in Hawaii.