In order to become President, you have to be born in the USA. Unfortunately, this excludes military brats born abroad, even if they were abroad in military service to the USA.
I was born in Germany, on an American Army base, because my dad was in the Army and was stationed there. If I ever wanted to be President, I wouldn't be able to because I wasn't born in the USA.
I don't want to be President, so it's not a big deal to me. But, I bet there's some patriot brats who would like the job, but are being denied the opportunity for the same reasons. It seems to me that they should have that chance.
Your thoughts?
2007-08-28 09:44:51 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I believe you may have misread that line in the United States Constitution. The wording actually states you must be a natural born citizen on the United States. It does not say you must be born IN the United States. Even if you were not born on the military base in Germany you would still meet the criteria of beeing a natural born citizen.
2007-08-28 09:54:21 · answer #1 · answered by Mohammed F 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Ok, as a former poli sci major I say this is just wacked & also false. The Constitution clearly states that too. I mean your parents are American. But you can run for president if you were born to American parents in a different country, also an American Amry base is considered to be apart of the United States too. I just wish that people would know what the heck they were talking about before they speak.
2007-08-28 14:59:07 · answer #2 · answered by Felicia A 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Military bases are NOT considered US soil.
Americans born abroad to two US parents can become president as long as one of the parents actually lived 5 or more years in the United States, 2 of which after the age of 18.
2007-08-28 10:25:55 · answer #3 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My son is in the same boat. He was born in Korea.
Personally I feel that anyone who can meet the criteria for the Report of an American Citizen Born Abroad issued by the Embassy should be able to run.
George Romney who tried to run in the 1970s was the son of an Ambassador and disqualified because he was born in Mexico.
2007-08-28 09:54:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You CAN be president. If you were born of American parents you are an American citizen, even if born abroad.
John McCain, I believe, was born in the Panama Canal Zone, yet he is not disqualified.
PS Yup - his parents were citizens, so it does not matter where he was born:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain
The Zone was US territory at the time, but again his parents were citizens, so that's the deciding factor. He could have been born in the USSR and still run for president.
Remember me when you get to the White House! :)
2007-08-28 09:50:23 · answer #5 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You're reading the requirement wrong. You have to be a natural born U.S. Citizen, meaning that at your time of birth you are a U.S. Citizen, not an immigrant citizen. Big difference. Since your parents were U.S. Citizens you were born a U.S. Citizen, therefore you are a Natural born U.S. Citizen. You didn't immigrate and apply for citizenship, for you it was automatic. You would be eligible to run for presidency.
2007-08-29 01:23:05 · answer #6 · answered by GIOSTORMUSN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
American Parents on a American Military base which is considered American soil. Run for President if you change your mind.
2007-08-28 10:41:57 · answer #7 · answered by Rawbert 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, my dad was born on a military base in Germany! Yes, you are correct, you have to be born in the US, even though both my dad's parents were legal citizens their whole lives. When you are born a US citizen outside the country, you don't get a birth certificate.
It does seem kind of dumb, but imagine if two US citizens left the country for 20 years, had a kid, and 30 years later he came back to the US. Certainly his citizenship would come into question.
2007-08-28 09:56:45 · answer #8 · answered by Pfo 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm not so sure about this.
All it says in the Constitution is that you must be a native born citizen of the US. Military service constitutes American citizenship, and I believe DoD dependents are as well.
This would be a question for a Constitutional lawyer if you were really interested in the job. Who the hell would want it in the first place?
2007-08-28 09:51:24 · answer #9 · answered by joshcrime 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i dont know if any of these people who are answering have given birth to a baby on an overseas base since 9/11 but the rules have changed, my son was born in feb 07 in japan..on base to 2 american parents. he was born a japanese citizen and in fact was not a US citizen until May so he has not been a citizen since birth, i think the date on his consulars report is apr 23, 2007. which puts him in the same boat as schwarzenegger or anyone else who is now a US citizen but wasnt born one and wants to run for president.
2007-08-28 11:01:50 · answer #10 · answered by CRmac 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋