Thus. in determining the meaning of the term "naturalborn citizen." as used in the Constitution. we should inquire what the language meant to the members of the Constitutional convention. and not what the English common law and statutory law was in all of its ramifications relating to the subject of citizenship. It is clear that under the English common law this term "natural born" meant "native born". i.e. within the realm and dominion of the King. While naturalization and other acts of Parliament had afforded to foreign born alien children of English parentage certain rights to citizenship and inheritance by being "deemed" to be "natural born" (i.e. "deemed" native born when not so born). still. the fact remains that the genuine "naturalborn" citizens were the "nativeborn" citizens. It was this genuine "nativeborn" citizen (rather than one who was not. but by act of Parliament was "deemed" to be) to which the framers of the Constitution referred when they used the term "naturalborn citizens" as one of the qualifications for the President. The English common law is explained in detail in Calvins case. 7 Coke 1.
Keywords matched
naturalization foreign born