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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 to U.S. military parents stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory within Panama which until 1978 was administered by the United States<ref>http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/panama-canal-zone.jsp</ref>.  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 to U.S. military parents stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory within Panama which until 1978 was administered by the United States<ref>http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/panama-canal-zone.jsp</ref>.  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>

==U.S. Supreme Court cases that cite natural born citizenship as one born to citizen parents on U.S. soil.==

==U.S. Supreme Court cases that cite natural born citizenship as one born to citizen parents on U.S. soil.==

Ann Scott was born in South Carolina before the American revolution, and her father adhered to the American cause and remained and was at his death a citizen of South Carolina. There is no dispute that his daughter Ann, at the time of the Revolution and afterwards, remained in South Carolina until December, 1782. Whether she was of age during this time does not appear. If she was, then her birth and residence might be deemed to constitute her by election a citizen of South Carolina. If she was not of age, then she might well be deemed under the circumstances of this case to hold the citizenship of her father, for children born in a country, continuing while under age in the family of the father, partake of his national character as a citizen of that country. Her citizenship, then, being prima facie established, and indeed this is admitted in the pleadings, has it ever been lost, or was it lost before the death of her father, so that the estate in question was, upon the descent cast, incapable of vesting in her? Upon the facts stated, it appears to us that it was not lost and that she was capable of taking it at the time of the descent cast.

Ann Scott was born in South Carolina before the American revolution, and her father adhered to the American cause and remained and was at his death a citizen of South Carolina. There is no dispute that his daughter Ann, at the time of the Revolution and afterwards, remained in South Carolina until December, 1782. Whether she was of age during this time does not appear. If she was, then her birth and residence might be deemed to constitute her by election a citizen of South Carolina. If she was not of age, then she might well be deemed under the circumstances of this case to hold the citizenship of her father, for children born in a country, continuing while under age in the family of the father, partake of his national character as a citizen of that country. Her citizenship, then, being prima facie established, and indeed this is admitted in the pleadings, has it ever been lost, or was it lost before the death of her father, so that the estate in question was, upon the descent cast, incapable of vesting in her? Upon the facts stated, it appears to us that it was not lost and that she was capable of taking it at the time of the descent cast.

* Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857)

* [[Dred Scott v. Sandford]], 60 U.S. 393 (1857)

The citizens are the members of the civil society; bound to this society by certain duties, and subject to its authority, they equally participate in its advantages. The natives, or natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens. As society cannot perpetuate itself otherwise than by the children of the citizens, those children naturally follow the condition of their parents, and succeed to all their rights.' Again: 'I say, to be of the country, it is necessary to be born of a person who is a citizen; for if he be born there of a foreigner, it will be only the place of his birth, and not his country. . . .

The citizens are the members of the civil society; bound to this society by certain duties, and subject to its authority, they equally participate in its advantages. The natives, or natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens. As society cannot perpetuate itself otherwise than by the children of the citizens, those children naturally follow the condition of their parents, and succeed to all their rights.' Again: 'I say, to be of the country, it is necessary to be born of a person who is a citizen; for if he be born there of a foreigner, it will be only the place of his birth, and not his country. . . .

A number of past Presidential candidates also raised controversy:

A number of past Presidential candidates also raised controversy:

* [[George Romney]], Governor of Michigan, ran in the 1968 Republican Presidential primaries even though he was born in [[Mexico]] with both of his parents being US citizens.<ref name=reut>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificate-idUSBRE84S1GF20120529|title=Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy|date=May 29, 2012|accessdate=August 11, 2012}}</ref>

* [[George Romney]], Governor of Michigan, ran in the 1968 Republican Presidential primaries even though he was born in [[Mexico]] with both of his parents being US citizens.<ref name=reut>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificate-idUSBRE84S1GF20120529|title=Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy|date=May 29, 2012|accessdate=August 11, 2012}}</ref>

* [[John McCain]] ran for President as the Republican nominee in 2008, even though he was born in the Panama Canal Zone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/us/politics/28mccain.html?_r=0|title=McCain’s Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out|work=New York Times|date=February 28, 2008|accessdate=August 11, 2014|first=Carl|last=Hulse}}</ref>

* [[John McCain]] ran for President as the Republican nominee in 2008, even though he was born in the Panama Canal Zone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/us/politics/28mccain.html?_r=0|title=McCain’s Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 28, 2008|accessdate=August 11, 2014|first=Carl|last=Hulse}}</ref>

==Notes==

==Notes==