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Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 19:57:17 -0800 From: Tim May <tcmay@got.net> Subject: RE: Norway - go to jail for naming baby illegal [CNN]

At 5:59 PM -0800 12/31/98, Reeza! wrote:

...

THAT is _almost_ understandable. You say that Iceland requires immigrants to change their names to Norse ones, you didn't say to Norse ones on the approved list. or Norse ones avoiding those on the disapproved list. Does Iceland have the same "children who are born here are Icelandic citizens, regardless of the nationality of the parents" provision of the US constitution?

Is that written into the Constitution? I wasn't aware of that. If so, I will have learned something new tonight, perhaps the last major new thing I learn in 1998.

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. The first sentence is normaly considered the legal standard that is being referenced here. It's the only place in the Constitution that refers to how one actualy gains citizenship. There are apparently three (one unmentioned) ways: 1. natural born (ie being physicaly born on US soil) is the highest measure of 'American' citizenship 2. being a citizen of the US at the time of ratification 3. Unementioned, but implied by the stipulation of 1. for the office of president. The intent is commenly held that this prevents foreign nationals of long-standing from bringing foreign influence into the office. Implicit is that the legislature set relevant standards. ____________________________________________________________________ What raises the standard of living may well diminish the quality of life. The Club of Rome The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------