[GraniteGrok] Democrat Senator Kamala Harris (CA) could be in for an unwelcome campaign surprise if she faces a constitutional eligibility challenge to her bid for the presidency. Why? Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution decrees that "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." [Emphasis added].
While Senator Harris was born here, neither of her parents were American citizens at the time of her birth. Her father was a citizen of Jamaica, and her mother, a citizen of India. As discussed below, a patrilineal heritage is weighed heavily in determining the degree of citizenship required for anyone to become president.
While this issue has been discussed before, this article is not just another rehash of the basics of the debate over the meaning of "natural born Citizen," as so many have been. Nor is it an attack on Senator Harris’ political ideology. It is blind to partisanship. Instead, it’s an in-depth account based on extensive research that provides proven insights into what the phrase meant to the Framers, how it came to be included in the Constitution, and what prerequisites for presidential eligibility flow from it. |