Amending the U.S. Constitution to Allow Naturalized Citizens to Run for President

The U.S. Constitution currently mandates that a U.S. President must be a 'natural born citizen.' This requirement has long been a subject of debate, with many questioning its relevance and fairness. However, to amend the Constitution and allow naturalized citizens to run for the presidency, significant effort and consensus would be required.

Navigating the Path to Constitutional Amendment

According to the U.S. Constitution, an amendment to change the natural-born citizen requirement would need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Beyond this, three-fourths of the state legislatures would also need to ratify the amendment. Given the complexity of the legislative process, this is no small feat.

For instance, a recent attempt by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in 2003 to introduce such an amendment failed in committee. The proposed amendment, introduced as Hatch’s Amendment, aimed to allow a person who had been a U.S. citizen for 20 years to run for the presidency. It was re-introduced in 2015 with the same intent, though without specific candidates in mind.

The Evolution of Presidential Eligibility Laws

It is worth noting that the current eligibility requirements have evolved over time. For example, while the Constitution originally required only a 14-year residency, it is now clear that someone could be eligible to be President by accident of birth, even if they spent most of their life living abroad after infancy. Conversely, someone who lived their entire life in the U.S. except for infancy could be ineligible.

Some argue that a more flexible requirement, such as 35 years of U.S. citizenship and residency, would better align the criteria with the goal of ensuring a president has a deep understanding of the nation. This viewpoint reflects the current debate on whether the natural-born requirement is still relevant in today’s context.

Potential Impact and Support

The bid to amend the Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to run for the presidency is not without its challenges. For one, there is a lack of significant support for such a change. Critics argue that it would fundamentally alter the tradition of having a President who has had a life strongly rooted in the nation's history and culture from birth.

However, the possibility cannot be dismissed entirely. Some see an advantage in having leadership that has experienced different cultures and backgrounds. It is suggested that as the U.S. becomes more diverse, the need for a President who can empathize with a broader range of American people might become more pressing. In this context, a condition like 35 years of U.S. citizenship and residency might be seen as a more inclusive alternative.

Conclusion

While amending the U.S. Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to run for President seems unlikely in the near future, the debate on this issue continues. This discussion highlights the ongoing evolution of the criteria for the highest office in the land and the challenges faced in achieving consensus on significant constitutional changes.