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How can John McCain be eligible for President? He is not a natural-born citizen.?

Article II, sec 1,(5) of the U.S. constitution clearly indicates that no person except a natural-born citizen shall be eligible to the office of the President. McCain was born in the Canal Zone.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    McCain was born on a US military base and both his parents were citizens. This makes him a 'natural born' citizen.

    Are you trying to claim that any children born to US military personnel serving overseas are not as good as children born to civilians in the US?

  • wizjp
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Which makes him elligible

    The requirements for President are that one must be at least 35 years old, a "natural born citizen" of the United States, and a resident for 14 years.

    The Fourteenth Amendment mentions two types of citizenship: citizenship by birth and citizenship by law (naturalized citizens): "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

    That "should" include John McCain, whose parents were citizens, as well as an estimated two million others who, according to government figures, were born to U.S. parents living and working overseas.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    So your logic would exclude the children of American Service men and women, Diplomats and other Government officials from being citizens if the kids were born while they served America overseas. I would like to inform you they are natural born.

  • 1 decade ago

    Dennis,

    He is a natural born citizen.

    The dependent of a military sponsor serving on US turf (ie. the canal zone) and born in a US facility qualifies as a natural born citizen. It's like the dependents born on Okinawa before 1972.

    In consideration - my oldest daughter was born while I was serving in Greece (not US turf). Thus, she doesn't qualify.

    "Ranger"

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  • 1 decade ago

    he was born in a US territory: The Canal Zone

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    He was born in a US military hospital in the Canal Zone. (US territory)

  • Ken
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    A child born to two American citizens is, automatically, a citizen independent of the location of the birth.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Was born on a base in the panama canal...his dad was serving. It does qualify him.

  • 1 decade ago

    if he was born in the canal zone, i believe that was included in US territory. at some point that was actually US soil

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    this is not the reason why he can not be the president, his temper, age and policies are the reasons.

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