Would you go for this trade?

[DZTUBAGIRL]

I say yes to the 3rd term ammendment for Bill to run again but the only bad thing is that George could run again...and I don't want that personally.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by PureGoldF2K1
here are plenty of people with American born parents who just happened to be born out of the country and therefore could never run.

I'm pretty sure this isn't true - anyone want to verify?

I always thought that people born to American citizens outside of the country were granted full US citizenship (ie military parents, etc).

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by PureGoldF2K1
There are plenty of people with American born parents who just happened to be born out of the country and therefore could never run.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that the child of American citizens is considered to be born an American citizen regardless of where the birth took place. Can anyone confirm this?

[WCUgirl]

RC & KR,

I agree. Children born out of the US to American citizens are automatically US citizens. It's called the principle of jus sanguinis, which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his/her parents.

Link

[mu_agd]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that the child of American citizens is considered to be born an American citizen regardless of where the birth took place. Can anyone confirm this?

According to Ben's guide to the US Government for Kids that is correct.


eta: i was beaten to posting information, but i still like Ben's guide, so i'm leaving it up.

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by mu_agd
According to Ben's guide to the US Government for Kids that is correct.


eta: i was beaten to posting information, but i still like Ben's guide, so i'm leaving it up.

Lol. Ben's guide looks like a more watered-down explanation. The link I found was just the first thing that came up under Google that I could use to post.

[preciousjeni]

My aunt was born in Algeria (Africa) and spent most of her life in Luxembourg. My grandparents are American. Because of the laws in each country, she had to decide by the age of 16 in which country she wanted to declare citizenship.

Some people have a choice. I wonder if you choose a country other than the States, would you be able to switch it back in the future and still run for president?

(No need to answer - I know it's a tangent - but it's something that popped into my head.)

[DeltAlum]

I just looked at this the other day and if I recall correctly...

To be President you must have been born in the U.S. OR be an US Citizen in which case at least one of your parents has to have been a US Citizen.

If you are a US Citizen by birth (born outside the country to US citizen(s) you must have lived in the US for the past 14 years (I think it was 14). You must also be at least thirty-five years of age.

I didn't look it up again, but am fairly sure that is accurate.

(Assuming it is, I wonder if your parents were of differing citizenship (ie mom is American, dad is German or whatever) which may give you dual citizenship -- can someone with dual citizenship be President?

[kafromTN]

I don't think the United States actually formally recognizes dual citizenship.

[sugar and spice]

I think both of those laws are in place for a reason, and I would prefer for them to remain in place.

That said, I don't really think that Arnold could win a national election -- at least not in 2008. Perhaps in some later point in his political career.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by kafromTN
I don't think the United States actually formally recognizes dual citizenship.

I was thinking after I posted that you may be right about that.