President. I thank the Senator from Pennsylvania and likewise the Senator from California for their respective observations. I have not had he time to read the memorandum inserted in the RECORD on Thursday afternoon by the Senator from Michigan . but the facts stated both by the Senator from Pennsylvania and the Senator from California accord with my recollection about the matter. namely. that the two words were discussed and the substitution of the word "citizens" for the word "persons" was successfully resisted. thus clearly showing that the lawmaking body itself appreciated the distinction between the two. in that the word "persons" was larger and more inclusive than the word "citizens" in that it included both citizens and noncitizens who might be in the country. That fact. coupled with the fact that all previous Congresses dealing with the subject of apportionment have regarded the word "persons" as including both citizens and aliens. with the additional fact that the language upon its face appears to be clear and plain. denoting a difference between the meaning of the two words. All three factors taken into account in forming the equatioff. it seems to me to lead to the conclusion that the word "persons " includes aliens and that the Congress would do violence to the Constitution if It departed from that construction.
Keywords matched
noncitizens