Can a Puerto Rican be elected president of the United States?

Question

Puerto Ricans are USA citizens. Under current constitutional law, can a person born in Puerto Rico be elected president of the United States?

Answer 1

Of course. They're US citizens from birth --- not naturalized citizens --- dating from 1917 and they have all the rights of any other American, including, once living in one of the 50 states, the right to vote for or run for President. The only US citizens currently unable to run for President are naturalized citizens.

Check the law on this, folks, it's clear. Opinions notwithstanding, Puerto Ricans are US citizens, no ifs or ands or buts.

Note: Guys, opinions notwithstanding, Puerto Ricans are citizens from birth. Birth. Once they move to the mainland US (or Hawaii), they have absolutely the same rights to vote and all other rights as do other US citizens. If they're of Puerto Rican birth and in one of our states, they can run for President just as you or I can. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but it's the facts and it's the law.

Answer 2

No it can't be elected because Puerto Rico is not a part of the US. It is free associated to the US which is different. Also Puerto Ricans have a congress US statutory citizenship (it can be taken away since the political association is not a permanent one.) In 2006 the Puerto Rico supreme court recognized the Puerto Rican citizenship.

Answer 3

A person born in Puerto Rico from native parents can not become President of the United States.

Answer 4

No. A Puerto Rican cannot be elected president of the United States. Puerto Ricans are exempt from the United States Internal Revenue Code, lack voting representation in the House and Senate, are ineligible to vote in presidential elections and are ineligible to be elected president.

Answer 5

No I don't think so as they have no representatives in Congress. They are not a state, though they carry US citizenship. I think the constitution says they must come from a state!

Though the Constitution has changed the original intent was clear when it came to the presidency!

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

"The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President"

This is how originally elected!

Puerto Rico has turned down statehood several times and consider themselves as Puerto Rican! Even if the Supreme Court said they could run, they would get no where, especially after their anti-US sentiments! Not all, but enough they chose NOT to accept statehood!

Answer 6

Puerto Ricans are born USA citizens. Is a misconception to say that they don't pay taxes. They pay local state taxes, sales tax, social security and medicare. If you work for a federal agency and live in Puerto Rico you have to pay federal taxes. The Democrats and Republicans even recollect money and celebrate primaries in the island. Puerto Ricans are not exempted of military obligations. They are thousands of them now figthing in Iraq.

Answer 7

Well! Bill Richardson,the Governor from New Mexico,s running for
President and if I remember he is Hispanic,now as for Puerto Rico,I do not think so Puerto Rico,is a Territory even though they get funding from the US,that is a very good question when u find out let me know.

Answer 8

I don't believe so because Puerto Rico is not a state. It is still a territory. It does not pay taxes.

Answer 9

Puerto Rico is a country associated to the US, They are not a US state or incorporated territory, Also PRicans are statutory US citizens and have also their own puerto rican citizenship.
The answer to your question is NO

Answer 10

No, don't think so you must be born in the US (I think description below). Though if your from PR you don't need a visa, green card, or any kind of working papers you are not a citizen. Purrto Ricans can sometimes seem like they have all the same rights, such as can collect welfare, dosn't need working papers, can register in schools, its for a reason. We use PR for military bases and set off bombs on and near their islands and in return they can come and go as they please and not have to pay our taxes. We would also defend them if anyone every tried to take over their island because they are so small, they would not have the abillity to fight for themselves.